By: ML Verma
Shimla (Apr 5): In order to restore the lost sanity and architecture of ancient temples of Bilaspur town submerged in Bhakra Dam, the central government has now shown interest to relocate monuments that were lost in the artificial lake during the sixties.
Stating this in the Himachal Pradesh state Assembly today during the Question Hour, Chief Minister PK Dhumal informed that a team of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) visited the spot in February this year to study transplantation of the temples to another place.
The ASI was planning to relocate seven to eight temples out of the total 28. Some of the temples belong to sixth century. Dhumal said that the matter has been taken up with the Union government number of times keeping in mind the religious sentiments of the people.
During summers some of the submerged temples are visibly as the water level recedes. The historic town of Bilaspur was submerged in the Gobind Sagar, the reservoir of the Bhakra Dam, on July 1, 1954, and the new town came up near the old one.
The Chief Minister also stated that so far the state government has spent Rs 7.39 crore for restoring the monuments and shrines during its three year rule in the state. The matter was raised by Roop Singh (Sundernagar).
CCTV in Himachal shrine to check temple burglaries
In another written reply regarding shrines burglaries, Dhumal said that in the last three years ancient idols and other temple articles (ornaments) worth Rs 33.38 lakh were stolen from various temples and shrines. “Though government has not framed any policy to check thefts in temples, shrine managements have been asked to install CCTV cameras, lookers (to keep valuable articles and ornaments), alarm/siren and strong grills to prevent such incidents.” The Matter was raised by Sohan Lal (Cong- Kasumpti) in the Question Hour.
