Union petroleum and steel minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
BHUBANESWAR: Day after the Odisha government cleared an ordinance to govern Lingaraj temple, Union petroleum and steel minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday wrote to chief minister Naveen Patnaik seeking to bring similar legislations to govern four other prominent shrines in different parts of the state.
In a letter addressed to Naveen, Dharmendra requested separate laws for Biraja temple in Jajpur, Samaleswari Temple in Sambalpur, Tara Tarini Temple in Ganjam and Nilamadhab Temple in Nayagarh. “Such legal provisions will bring high standard of accountability to the management of the temples with necessary budgeting, planning and audits. It will also safeguard the long-term interest of the temples,” the Union minister wrote.