Collector to head Baldevjew and Lingaraj temple trust

Bhubaneswar, Dec 17(UNI) District Collectors will be appointed as Chief of Trust Boards for better management of hundreds of acres of land of Lord Baldevjew temple in Kendrapara and the Lingaraj temple in Bhubaneswar lying encroached.

The decision was taken at a high-level meeting here chaired by Law Minister Biswabhushan Harichandan while reviewing the status, records and rituals of both the temples.

The Revenue Divisional Commissioner, Collectors, members of the Trust Board were among others present at the meeting.

Mr Harichandan said the decision was taken as despite the temple possessing hundreds acres of land the ritual of deities could not be performed properly due to lack of fund as a major portion of the land had been encroached by various people.

He said Baldevjew temple owns 867 acres of land but the rituals of the deities could not be observed properly due to lack of funds.

A major portion of the land was encroached and in some cases it was recorded in some other person's name illegally.

The meeting decided to execute the eviction order, file cases against persons illegally possessing the temple land and auction the 134 acres of hallow land of the Baldevjew temple.

The Collector Kendrapara was asked to make a detailed study about the land and take action.

Similarly, out of 172 acres of total land recorded in the name of Lord Lingaraj 52 acres were encroached. The persons encroaching the temple land would be evicted and the fallow land lying in different places would be auctioned,he said.

UNI