Haryana CM chairs Shri Mata Mansa Devi Shrine Board meeting

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, while reviewing the preparations at Shri Mata Mansa Devi Complex, Panchkula ahead of Ashwin Navratri, directed concerned officials to construct three large air-conditioned Bhandara halls for the convenience of devotees, each with a capacity to seat at least 1,500 devotees at a time to partake prasad.

He instructed the officials to establish a modern kitchen with special emphasis on cleanliness.

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The chief minister, who also serves as the chairman of the shrine board, was presiding over its 22nd meeting here on Tuesday in the presence of Urban Local Bodies Minister Vipul Goyal, Kalka MLA, Shakti Rani Sharma, along with other members of the board.

Speaking on the occasion, he said until the construction of the Bhandara halls is complete, temporary hangars should be set up as an alternative arrangement for the upcoming Navratri, ensuring large-scale arrangements for Bhandara.

For the promotion of pilgrimage, the chief minister proposed a plan to be prepared for starting a bus service connecting prominent religious sites such as Shri Mata Mansa Devi Temple, Chandi Mata Temple, Kali Mata Temple, Morni, Bada Trilokpur and Nada Sahib Gurudwara. This initiative, he said, would provide devotees with the opportunity to conveniently visit various sacred places in the Panchkula district.

While reviewing the construction of the lotus-shaped building at Kali Mata Temple, Kalka, he said the work should be completed within the stipulated time.

Reviewing the booths constructed by HSVP in the Shri Mata Mansa Devi Temple complex, Saini directed officials to conduct a survey of unused and dilapidated booths and explore the possibility of removing them. He added that, keeping in view the master plan of the temple, this space should be utilized by HSVP for commercial activities in line with policy guidelines.

It was also decided in the meeting that, under the renovation and master plan of the Shri Mata Mansa Devi Shrine site, the temple premises should be further beautified and any encroachments removed. Apart from this, directions were also given to conserve and enhance the murals within the temple complex and to beautify Hanuman Vatika.

The chief minister said cleanliness must be given top priority at all religious places. During Navratri, when a large number of devotees visit temples, cleanliness should be ensured through special arrangements so that devotees experience a clean and holy environment.

He told the officials that during the Sewa Pakhwada being observed from September 17 to October 2, the cleanliness drive should be carried out more effectively in Mata Mansa Devi temple premises as well as other religious places. During this period, the administration, local bodies and voluntary organizations should jointly undertake large-scale cleaning activities.

Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Arun Kumar Gupta, Mayor Panchkula, Kulbhushan Goyal, Commissioner and Secretary of Urban Local Bodies Department Vikas Gupta, Chief Executive Officer, Panchkula Metropolitan Development Authority, K Makrand Pandurang, Director, Tourism Department, Dr Shaleen, HSVP Administrator Monika Gupta, Deputy Commissioner, Panchkula, Satpal Sharma, Chief Executive Officer Shri Mata Mansa Devi Shrine Board Nisha along with other senior officers were present in the meeting.