Just a week after Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray announced that the government will set up a fund for restoring and conserving ancient temples across the state, the Maharashtra Cabinet has formally approved ₹101 crores for the project by making allocations in the state’s 2021-22 budget.
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“We have not given up Hindutva,” Thackeray had said while announcing the fund. At the State Assembly, the CM further said that this step is being taken to “promote ancient culture and traditions.” He also asked for the opposition’s cooperation to identify ancient temples across the state to preserve or restore.
The restoration process will be conducted in a phased manner with the process being decided upon by a nine-member committee. Members of this committee will include the secretaries for cultural affairs, Public Works Department (PWD), finance, and tourism. It is said that the dean of JJ College of Architecture will also be a member of this committee.
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Officials have previously said that five of the 12 “'Jyotirlingas” are situated in Maharashtra. The state is also renowned for pilgrimage spots in Alandi, Pandharpur as well as the Ashtavinayak Ganapati trail. Further, temples dedicated to goddesses Tuljabhavani, Mahalakshmi, Renukamata, and Saptashringi also happen to be in the state.
Recently, the CM was at loggerheads with the Governor of Maharashtra, Bhagat Singh Koshyari over the reopening of places of worship across Maharashtra amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
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