Bhubaneswar, January 9: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Union Petroleum and Natural Gas and Steel Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday jointly launched the Bindusagar Lake Rejuvenation initiative, a CSR project by Indian Oil Corporation Ltd here.
Around Rs 70 lakh is being invested from the IndianOil Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) fund for this initiative. As part of the initiative, Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT)-Indian Oil (IOC) campus, Bhubaneswar in collaboration with the Odisha Bridge Construction Corporation (OBCC), renovation and cleaning of Bindusagar will be taken into hand.
Four pumping systems along with HDC reactor will be projected around the Bindusagar which will make this holy water clean and to increase the aesthetic value of water body.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister said that Bindusagar is inextricably linked with all pilgrimage centres across India and so is an epitome of national integration.
“We should all come forward in lending a hand to clean and preserve the holy lake,” said CM Patnaik.
The holy Bindusagar Lake is believed to have originated in the 7th century AD. Surrounded by historic temples and architectural treasures, this lake near the Lingaraj Temple has immense mythological, religious as well cultural significance for the people of Odisha.
“ICT-IOC will also take up cleaning, restoration and conservation of other tanks and bodies adjacent to the Lingaraj Temple. This will be crucial in boosting the tourism potential of Odisha, creating large-scale employment and further propelling Odisha’s growth,” said Union Minister Pradhan.
“Government under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi is committed to conserve and protect our national heritages. This initiative today is one more step towards restoring the old glory of one of the most noteworthy sights in Bhubaneswar and also developing it as a tourism hotspot,” said Pradhan.
Ministers Prafulla Mallik, Ashok Chandra Panda and Bhubaneswar MP Aprajita Sarangi, Rajya Sabha member Dr Raghunath Mohapatra were also present.
