RAIPUR: One thousand-year-old Mouli Mata temple — which was demolished 12 years ago for the renovation of Telibandha lake in Chhattisgarh capital Raipur — will be reconstructed at the same place.
Mayor Aijaz Dhebar on Tuesday said then Raipur Municipal Corporation Commissioner (RMC) OP Chowdhary, the present state general secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), was responsible for the demolition of the temple.
The decision to rebuild the temple has been taken "to respect the faith of the people".
A mega religious fair used to be organised at the temple on the first Tuesday of ‘Asadh’ every year and this fair used to attract thousands of devotees, said the Mayor.
“Mouli Mata temple was being worshipped for hundreds of years before being demolished and the temple had been the centre of faith for thousands of people. Therefore, we have decided to rebuild the temple,” the mayor said while targeting the then BJP government for the demolition of the temple.
Raipur North MLA Kuldeep Juneja said that chief minister Bhupesh Baghel accepted their demand to construct the temple where it was before the demolition.
Bhoomi Poojan will be conducted on February 18, on the day of Mahashivaratri and thousands of Hindu scholars will be offered ‘bhoji’ on the occasion.
Recently, the RMC carried out an anti-encroachment drive to remove roadside vendors, paving the way for the construction of the temple.
