After Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna, the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre too on Wednesday turned down Gujarat Chief Minister Narender Modi’s offer to rebuild the Kedarnath temple in the flood-ravaged hilly State.
Making an indirect reference to Modi’s offer, Union Culture Minister Chandresh Kumari Katoch said that outside help was not required to restore Uttarakhand’s 11th century Kedarnath temple that was damaged in last month’s deluge.
“We want to restore the temple to its original glory and we have the best experts. It should be left to the department (Archaeological Survey of India) to do it,” Katoch told reporters here. “Others shouldn’t interfere, otherwise they will bring their own ideas,” she added.
The Minster’s response came on a question whether the Central Government would accept Modi’s offer to help rebuild the temple. During his visit to Uttarakhand, Modi had said the Gujarat Government would take the responsibility of reconstructing the Kedarnath temple — one of the shrines of the ‘chaar dham’ pilgrimage which attracts pilgrims from all over the country. But Bahuguna had turned down the offer.
Katoch said the Ministry had sent a team of experts to assess the damage to the temple but they could not reach there due to bad weather. “As soon as the weather clears, we will do it,” she said.
On the funding required to rebuild the temple, she said, the ASI will seek funds from the Centre, the National Culture Fund and also raise money through public participation. “The State Government can also contribute in whatever they can,” she said.
ASI Director General Pravin Srivastava said provision has been made for funds for ASI to begin the work. The Uttarakhand Government will also contribute and the Ministry will encourage public participation in the process.