Yogi Adityanath for better facilities at holy sites

Lucknow: UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath has directed officials to ensure better facilities at places of worship in Uttar Pradesh.

According to the government spokesman, the chief minister underlined the need to restart the traditional Ram Leela that was played regularly in Ayodhya but stopped some time ago due to paucity of funds.

“The chief minister has said that better approach roads, clean drinking water facilities, toilet and resthouses must be ensured at all places of worship,” the spokesman said. Mr Aditynath has also shown interest in starting Bhajan Sandhya in Chitrakoot and Raas Leela programme in Mathura.

The chief minister has set a deadline of June 2018 for the completion of Bhajan Sandhya venue in Chitrakoot for which Rs 14.77 crore has been set aside. He directed officials of the religious endowment department to build boundary walls around all Hindu religious places to ensure safety and check encroachment.

He further called for restoration and beautification of ponds along the Brij Chaurasi Kosi Parikrama route in Mathura.

The state government will launch e-puja and e-donation facilities at Kashi Vishawanath temple in Varanasi to enable people living in far-off places to offer prayers.

A portal for online applications of the Kailash Mansarover Yatra and Sindhu pilgrimage will also be launched soon.