Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has approved a total allocation of Rs 5 crore for the preservation and restoration of five state protected monuments including the Punareshwar temple near Manjal in Nakhtrana taluka of Kutch in Gujarat.
Renovation of these State Protected Monuments as well as other infrastructural facilities under the State Government’s Directorate of Archeology and Museums will be undertaken from this amount.
The Chief Minister has approved conservation-restoration works in five state protected monuments of historical, archeological and religious-cultural significance of the state Kaleshwari Smarak Samuh Village: Lavana Ta. Lunawada Dist: Mahisagar-Punareshwar Temple (Near Panuragarh) Village: Manjal Ta: Nakhtrana Dist. Kutch-Tarnetar Temple Village: Thane Ta: Chotila Dist: Surendranagar-Ancient Jain Temple (Museum Building) Village: Prabhas Patan Ta: Veraval Patan Dist: Junagadh- Khambhalida Buddhist Caves Village: Khambhalida Ta: Gondal Dist: Rajkot.
As per the approval given to the Chief Minister, Rs.1 crore will be spent on conservation of monuments, renovation, campus development as well as tree planting, beautification works and development of tourist facilities.
The state government has allocated Rs 5 crore for this purpose in the budget of 2021-22.
Presentation accepted: It is noteworthy here that former Kutch BJP president Dilipbhai Trivedi made a presentation to Chief Minister Shri Rupani last year for the re-strengthening and development of Punareshwar Shiva Temple.
After that, the matter was put on hold due to covid’s condition. Welcoming today’s announcement, Shri Trivedi said that this decision of the Chief Minister will be liked by the worshipers of culture.
Brief History: Punareshwar Temple, (Near Panuragarh), Jam Lakha Phulani’s nephew was Punaro He built the fort of Padargarh / Puaragarh The ancient Shiva temple near this fort. This temple appears to be the oldest temple of Kutch in terms of archeology. Like the Jag Mandap of the Konark Sun Temple in Orissa, the Besra type temple is a combination of Jalakbhat and Nagar and Dravidian style.