Renovation of Pahari Mandir in Ranchi is likely to get started from April 21 this year. According to secretary of Pahari Mandir Trust, selection of any plan for the work is based on the load bearing capacity of the soil of the plateau mounted temple. Final decision on the design which is aimed to give a new look to the age old temple located in the heart of the city will be taken by the time. “On Sunday we did brainstorming for several hours to finalise the design for the temple and a tentative date for starting the renovation work has been fixed for April 21. Before that, we will hold a brief meeting seeking suggestions and objections on the proposed design of the temple following which a final approval will be given to the design,” said Ranchi SDO Amit Kumar.
According to the SDO, discussion over the five designs prepared by different Architects took place on Sunday out of which one has been selected for further discussion. “We are making all efforts to make Pahari Mandir a proud for the people of this state and bring it to the world map with all modern facilities. A total of five architects have put their designs before us out of which we have to select one,” the SDO added.
The design is equipped with all modern facilities including proper entrance, exit and parking space for the sea of devotees coming to the temple every year during ‘Shrawani Mela’. Approval of design is to depend on the load bearing capacity of the area, the SDO added. A meeting will take place on April 10 where an extensive discussion will take place on the pros and cons over the design prepared by the Delhi-based architect following which final approval will be given to the design on April 12, said the SDO.
Technical and Renovation Committee member of Pahari Mandir Trust Hari Jalan also asserted that the main focus will be on the safety of the devotees visiting every year which exceeds to over 2 lakh. “Apart from providing all the basic facilities like proper entrance and exit for the devotees, residence for the saints living in the temple premises, library, space for prasad distribution making proper use of the roads around the Pahari temple, our main concern is to look after the safety measures of lakhs of devotes visiting the temple,” said Jalan.
Selection of any design is based on load bearing capacity of the temple premises in order to avoid any untoward incident in the future, said Jalan. “The other four designs prepared by different architects were not considered as they were based on rock structures which might not withstand its weight in the future,” said Jalan. Major thrust of Ranchi DC was also on casualty less design, added Jalan. An organic fertilizer plant has also been constructed at Pahari Mandir for the proper utilisation of the ‘belpatra’ (leaf) and fruits offered to lord shiva during the worship. The fruits and flowers offered to the deity are now converted into organic fertilizer, used for the plants and trees in the area. Earlier it was thrown away as waste product.