Chintpurni shrine infra to get Rs 25 crore boost

UNA, MARCH 7

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today virtually launched the Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASAD) scheme of the Union Ministry of Tourism. Under the scheme, the revered Shaktipeeth of Mata Chintpurni in Una district will get a facelift at a cost of Rs 25 crore.

Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said temples were centres of faith and devotees who come to pay obeisance should have a divine and spiritual experience. He said major temples in the country would be provided with better facilities under the scheme. The PRASAD scheme was initiated in 2014 with a Budget of Rs 100 crore and is continuing in every Budget.

The scheme focuses on developing and identifying pilgrimage sites across India for enriching the religious tourism experience. The virtual launching was held today at 11 am where Union minister Anurag Thakur’s message was read out. The launching ceremony was telecast live at the Mai Das Sadan Tourist complex near Chintpurni shrine where Chintpurni MLA Sudarshan Singh Babloo was the chief guest.

The Una district administration had recently got vacated all illegal encroachments around the temple complex to make way for a corridor, where additional facilities to the devotees are proposed to be provided. A sewage scheme for the areas adjoining the shrine is almost complete and water supply scheme has been augmented.

In his message, Anurag thanked the Prime Minister for allocating Rs 25 crore for the development of Chintpurni temple which is located in his parliamentary segment, Hamirpur. He said the development would focus on remodelling and sprucing up of ‘kirtan’ hall, ‘prasad’ distribution counters, construction of 38 shops, development of a food court, control room, waiting hall for devotees, security room, emergency and first aid room, lift, ramps, drinking water facilities and a separate gallery for VVIPs ‘darshan’, besides construction of a ropeway.

The union minister said local cuisine, art and culture would be promoted in the proposed development activities. Efforts would also be made to provide self- employment opportunities to the local youth. He said Rs 100 crore to Rs 300 crore had been spent under the PRASAD scheme to develop Golden Temple, Tirupati Balaji Temple and Vaishno Devi shrine, adding that besides the provision of Rs 25 crores under the PRASAD scheme, money from the temple trust should also be spent to ensure a holistic development of the Chintpurni shrine.

PM’s virtual programme was telecast live at the Mai Das Sadan tourist complex near Chintpurni shrine. Chintpurni MLA Sudarshan Babloo said the state government had developed a master plan for the development of the temple and that illegal encroachments around the temple had been removed. Babloo said facilities of online yajna, ‘langar’ and ‘prasad’ service to the devotees had already been initiated.

ADC Mahender Pal Gurjar, assistant director of the Union Ministry of Tourism Sandeep Shukla, Jt Director Himachal Pradesh Tourism Department Chandan Kapoor and BJP district president Balbir Chaudhary were also present.