Bhubaneswar, June 13: The renovation and beautification of a pond, which is adjacent to the 16th century Mandhata Baba temple at Maneswar in Sambalpur city, will be completed by the end of next month.

The Sambalpur Municipal Corporation is undertaking renovation of the scared pond at an estimated cost of Rs 59 lakh.Municipal commissioner Bimalendu Rai said: "We have already completed desilting of the water body spread over one acre."

"An island will be built to allow the turtles lay eggs and visitors can watch them from the banks of the pond," he added.

Besides, construction of a jogging track, the corporation will also take up other beautification jobs in the periphery of the water body.

Apart from the ancient temple and the pond, turtles in the pond are a major attraction for visitors coming here. Around 54 turtles, which were taken out to desilt the pond, had been kept in a temporary facility. Now, they have been brought back to their original home.

In undivided Sambalpur district, a large number of Shiv temples were built during the reign of the Chauhan dynasty. The Mandhata Baba temple is one among the eight Asta Sambhu shrines.

Deepak Panda, a writer, said: "The renovation and beautification work will be help attract more tourists to this place."