Monday, November 15, 2010

TaraTarini Hill Shrine to get a face-lift

BERHAMPUR: The Tara Tarini Development Board (TTDB) has decided to take up construction work with around Rs. 1.2 crore within next one year to further develop the temple complex at the hill top. This was decided at a meeting of the TTDB chaired by its president Chandrasekhar Kumar, RDC, southern division. The main temple of this hill shrine was reconstructed at a cost Rs. 2.5 crores in traditional ‘Rekha' style of Oriyan temple architecture by master sculptor Padmabhusan Raghunath Mohapatra. The TTDB has entrusted Mr. Mohapatra with the next phase of construction work on the temple complex at the hill top. The design of the construction work was finalised at a meeting by the technical committee of the TTDB. Under it, a boundary wall will be built around the temple in traditional form at a cost of around Rs. 50 lakhs. Four ‘parswa' temples will be built up at four corners of the temple complex at a cost Rs. 44 lakhs. Apart from it, a modern kitchen will also be added to the temple complex. The kitchen complex will be constructed at a cost of Rs. 25 lakhs. “We have decided to complete these projects within a year and Mr. Mohapatra has also agreed to it,” said Pramod Kumar panda, secretary of the TTDB.
Meanwhile, work on the new ghat road to the hill top is also under way. The new road will be less steep and wider than the existing old road. The road is being laid at a cost of Rs. 5 crores by the Rural Development Department. Another ring road is also being laid around the Tara Tarini hill at a cost of Rs. 50 lakhs. The RDC directed the department to complete the construction of the roads by April, 2011.
The Tourism Department has also come up with plans of developmental projects for the hill shrine with Rs. 71 lakhs. Survey for it has already been complete. The TTDB has also decided to prepare a comprehensive master plan for the area around the hill shrine. A survey will be taken up in five km radius around the hill shrine soon for the purpose.
Source: The Hindu