Hazaribagh, Dec. 30: Chief minister Raghubar Das today promised to develop Maa Chhinnamastika Temple by next year and bring it on the national tourism map.
He made the announcement while laying the foundation of a Rs 3.95-crore project to beautify the pilgrimage spot in Rajrappa area of Ramgarh district amid tight security that was beefed up following a threat SMS.
Das, who visited the temple located around 65km from Ranchi and 28km from Ramgarh town for the first time after becoming chief minister, also offer prayers.
Addressing the gathering, he hinted of developing three religious spots in the state by pumping the required funds.
"My government's agenda is to develop the state with focus on agriculture, tourism and information technology. Maa Chhinnamastika Temple will also get funds from Central Coalfields Limited under its corporate social responsibility programme. Jharkhand, which is known for its natural beauty, needs proper development to lure tourists. And my government will develop all such tourist spots, including Maa Chhinnamastika Temple," the chief minister, who attended a programme on the foothills of Parasnath in Giridih yesterday, said.
Urging for local participation, he sought suggestions on development of the temple from the residents and priests.
The beautification project envisages construction of the temple's stairs, parking zone, children's park, a double-storey police picket, a gate, two cafeterias and a hanging bridge.
The chief minister's visit comes a day after Ramgarh SP M. Tamilvanan received an SMS, threatening an attack on the chief minister at the temple programme.
Following last night's SMS, officials right from state capital Ranchi to Ramgarh were put on alert. Today, DGP D.K. Pandey, senior administrative officials and police officers rushed to the temple and camped there during Das's visit. No one, including mediapersons, was allowed to go near Das.
Later, SP Tamilvanan said they arrested one Mahesh Mahto (21), an undergraduate who runs a grocery shop near Maa Chhinnamastika Temple, for sending the SMS.
The mobile phone SIM used was seized too.
"Mahto wanted to teach a lesson to an enemy and used that person's SIM to send the SMS. He was arrested from Hesapoda village in Gola block and confessed to his crime," the SP said.
