The ‘Charan Paduka’ (Foot Steps) of Shree Bhimakali ji Sarahan would be established at Jeori on national Highway for convenience of those pilgrims who fail to come upto main temple. Chief Minister Shri Virbhadra Singh who is also chairman of the Trust, stated this while presiding over a meeting of Shree Bhimakali ji Temple Trust at Sarahan on Saturday evening. Shri Virbhadra Singh said that Himachal Pradesh was known as land of Gods having many famous temples and places of religious and historic importance. Shree Bhimakali ji was one of them which was visited by the people of the country and abroad throughout the year in large numbers. He stressed the need for having proper infrastructural facilities such as ‘Sarai Bhawan’, water, electricity, parking and toilets for the pilgrims. He said that ‘Bhandara’ should be organized once in a week at Shree Bhimakali ji temple adding that proper publicity should be done in this regard so that people could make advance bookings.
Chief Minister said that Shree Bhimakaliji Temple Trust has 10 temples under its ambit. The Trust had earned Rs. 1,64,11,432 from its all sources from 1st January, 2012 to 31st December,2012 while the expenditure was Rs. 1,82,11,289 during this period and the total balance amount was Rs. 34,69,157. He said that since 1st January, 2013 till 30th September, 2013 the total income was Rs. 96,99,725 while the expenditure were Rs. 87,00,311 while the total balance was Rs. 44,68,571. Shri Virbhadra Singh said that complex adjoining Sarahan temple museum was in bad condition which would be reconstructed and the floor of Laukda ji temple would also be re-laid. He said that Lankdaveer ‘Sinhasan’ would be constructed with 20 kgs of silver.
Chief Minister said that a shed would be constructed to safeguard the chariot of Shree Ayodhya temple which was used in ‘Rath Yatra’ during Dussehra festival and silver ‘Chhatra’ of this chariot would be recasted as the old one had been damaged. He said that presently Rs. 20,000 were being given as ex-gratia grant on the untimely death and retirement grant to the employees of Shree Bhimakali Temple Trust which would be enhanced to Rs. 1,50,000 and Rs. 50,000 respectively. Shri Virbhadra Singh said that roof and floor of Janki Mai Gufa Mandir would be repaired by incurring an expenditure of Rs. lacs.
Tourism Department had provided Rs. 41.37 lakh to the Trust for the beautification, construction of ‘Pujari Niwas’ and Shraikoti temple repair, out of which Rs. 14.27 lakh had been spent on beautification and the rest amount would be spent on temple repair and ‘Pujari Niwas’, he added.
Chief Minister directed the PWD authorities for the maintenance and repair work of Shraikoti temple road and provide sanitation facility for the convenience of people. He also directed for repair and add more rooms at Daran Ghati Rest House to make it four room Rest House. SDM Rampur-cum-Vice Chairman of Shree Bhima Kali Temple Trust conducted the proceedings. CPS Shri Nand Lal, President Nagar Parishad Shri Deepak Sood, Shri J.P. Negi, Shri Ran Vijay Negi, Shri S.P. Negi, DC-cum- Commissioner of the Trust Shri Dinesh Malhotra and all other Trustees attended the meeting.Later, Chief Minister also performed pooja at Shree Bhima Kali Temple on the occasion of Durgashtami.