Temples will be beautified, infra strengthened, says CM

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh today stated that a master plan would be prepared for the beautification of the premises of Baba Balak Nath, Mata Shree Chintpurni, Shree Naina Devi and Maa Jwalaji temples.

Sukhu, while chairing a review meeting of the Art, Language and Culture Department here today, said temples will be beautified and infrastructure will be strengthened to provide the devotees top notch facilities. This will also encourage religious tourism, he added.

The Chief Minister said that from the next financial year, district level festivals would be organised in all the districts. At least one cultural evening will be reserved for local artists in these fairs and festivals as provision would be made to spend 33 per cent of the total expenditure on local artists. He also favoured fixing the honorarium of the artists.

Sukhu said that 107 fairs have been notified by the state government, which include four international level, five national level, 29 state level and 69 district-level fairs. In the financial year 2024-25, the state government has provided an assistance grant of Rs 1.10 crore for organizing these fairs.

The Chief Minister said that the work of setting up a digital museum at Bantony Castle in Shimla will be completed this year and directed to develop the ‘International Roerich Memorial Trust’ from the tourism point of view. The Chief Minister also did a detailed review of the schemes being implemented by the department.

Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, Health Minister Dhani Ram Shandil, Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh, Secretary to the Chief Minister Rakesh Kanwar and Director Language and Culture Dr Pankaj Lalit and senior officers were present in the meeting.