Delay in Bhagsunag temple work irks locals

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, August 19

The residents of Baghsunag area in Dharamsala city are peeved over delay in construction of the Bhagsunag temple in their area. The residents gathered under Vice Mayor of Dharamsala municipal corporation Onkar Nehria and protested against the delay in construction of the temple.

Nehria, while talking to newsmen, said that during the stint of the previous Congress government, the old temple structure was demolished. It was proposed that the new temple would be erected in its place. It has been five years since the old temple structure was demolished but not even 10 per cent work of new temple has been finished.

Nehria said the sentiments of people of Bhagsunag were attached to the temple. If the government did not have the resources to construct new temple it should not have demolished the old structure.

Sources here said that many residents of the area were considering delay in construction of Bhagsunag temple structure as an ill omen. Most of the residents of Bhagsunag are dependent on tourism for livelihood. Since the lockdown was imposed in the state due to corona pandemic most of the people of the area have lost their livelihood. They are of the view that it might be wrath of local deity whose temple has been lying incomplete for the past five years that has brought them misery.

Bhagsunag temple was also a tourist attraction in the area.

Deputy Commissioner Kangra, Rakesh Prajapati, when contacted, said that as per wishes of the residents of Bhagsunag a tender was floated by the PWD for re-construction of the Bhagsunag temple as per the old Himachal architecture. The artisans have been engaged from Kinnaur to construct the temple. The work to construct the temple as per old Himachal architecture involved minute detailing which was time consuming. The work has also been delayed due to corona pandemic.

“However, keeping in view the sentiments of the residents of Bhagsunag I would direct the PWD authorities to carry out the work of construction of temple at a fast pace by engaging more artisans,” he said.