Basukinath temple

Dumka, March 17: The trust running the famed Lord Basukinath temple here has decided to undertake a major expansion and renovation drive to ensure better facilities for the rising number of devotees who throng Dumka during the month-long Shravan mela.

At a meeting of the temple trust management committee chaired by Dumka deputy commissioner Prasant Kumar held last week, it was decided to begin work on expanding the temple premises to accommodate the rush of devotees.

In the first phase, the committee decided to remove encroachments that had come up on temple land. “Many illegal constructions like shops and other shanties that had come up in the area surrounding the temple would soon be removed,” Kumar said.

The meeting also resolved to acquire land, both government and private, for the extension of the temple campus in the second phase.

“The temple trust may acquire land if required for the extension project, but procedural details weren’t finalised,” said Abhaykant Prasad, a member of the trust management committee.

The management committee also discussed plans to put in place elaborate security arrangements inside the temple premises. To begin with, the number of guards would be increased.

As a revenue earning measure, the management committee also resolved to hold an auction of ornaments which were donated to Lord Basukinath by devotees. Besides, every Purnima, or full moon day, the temple would conduct an auction of clothes — primarily saris and dotis — donated by devotees during Shringari puja.

In view of the month-long Shravan mela to be held during July, the management decided to begin preparations by focussing on pending road projects and drinking water facilities.

“Work on constructing a public library on the Jalarpan Mandap would be started soon,” said Kumar.

In conclusion, notables urged Kumar to appoint new members to the temple management committee as a majority of members had either died or weren’t taking an active interest.

Apart from the ex-officio members like the deputy commissioner, SP, SDO, BDO (Jarmundi), only two members, Rajkumari Himmatsinhgka and Abhaykant Prasad, were attending meetings.