The Sun Temple in Konark has been included under the country’s list of 19 monuments which would be developed as Iconic Sites by the Centre. This was informed by Union Culture and Tourism Minister Prahlad Singh Patel replying to a query by BJD MP Dr Sasmit Patra in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.
Notably, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her Budget speech for 2019-20 had announced allocations to develop infrastructure at 17 places across the country. However, the Sun Temple and the Puri Jagannath Temple did not find mention in the Centre’s list. This had created resentment among Odisha people.