Rs 550 cr earmarked for cultural heritage conservation: Himachal Dy CM

Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri today said the state government had sanctioned Rs 550 crore for the conservation and development of cultural, heritage, religious places and ancient temples and historical monuments in the state.

He said, “The state government is fully committed to the conservation of cultural, heritage and religious sites.” The government was making continuous efforts to preserve the rich traditions and heritage of the state while also ensuring better facilities for pilgrims at various pilgrimage sites, he added.

Agnihotri, who also holds the charge of the Language, Art and Culture Department, said that of the total Rs 550 crore, around Rs 50 crore had been approved for the restoration of ancient temples, forts and archaeological sites. An assistance of Rs 37 crore had also been provided for various developmental works in the state-acquired temples, he added.

He said that for the convenience of pilgrims, a SUGAM Darshan system was introduced at Shri Chintpurni Temple on August 8, 2023, which had helped in crowd management and provided special facilities to the elderly and differently-abled persons. “Digital services like online langar booking and online darshan have also been made available, which are being implemented in other temple trusts of the state as well,” he added.

Agnihotri said that under the PRASAD scheme, Rs 56.26 crore had been sanctioned to Shri Chintpurni temple to promote religious tourism and spiritual heritage. A grand complex worth Rs 250 crore was being constructed at Shri Chintpurni temple while Rs 100 crore each had been approved for the development of the Jwalaji and Naina Devi temples.

He said that to ensure purity in religious rituals and chanting of mantras, special training programmes had been introduced for priests, which would cover all temples in a phased manner. He added that temples were being digitised and modernised to ensure a safe and convenient experience for all devotees. “The government is organising cultural festivals through digital platforms, documenting traditional practices, besides organising exhibitions to showcase the folk arts, traditional music, handicrafts and customs of Himachal,” he added.