Odisha to Frame New Policy for Systematic Management and Preservation of Ancient Temples

Bhubaneswar: To ensure the structured governance, ritual management, and conservation of ancient temples, the Odisha government is set to formulate a comprehensive policy tailored to the state’s unique cultural and administrative context. This announcement was made by Law, Works, and Excise Minister Prithviraj Harichandan during a high-level meeting at the Law Department’s conference hall today.

The proposed policy will draw from successful temple administration models in other states including Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. “We aim to adopt best practices from across the country and evolve a framework that suits Odisha’s temple traditions,” said Minister Harichandan.

As a first step, officials from the Endowment Department have been directed to conduct field surveys to assess the present condition of ancient temples throughout the state. The findings will inform targeted interventions for temple management, structural repairs, and preservation efforts.

Modernization of the Endowment Commissioner’s website is also in the pipeline, aimed at enhancing transparency and public access to essential temple-related information.

Key topics discussed during the meeting included the management of both endowment and privately owned temples, provision of special grants for temple maintenance, the legal rights of servitors backed by historical records, and the organization of religious festivals. Officials also reviewed the roles of temple trust boards, the functions of endowment inspectors, and the urgency of new appointments to accelerate implementation under the Odisha Hindu Religious Endowments (OHRE) Act, 1951.

Minister Harichandan called for coordinated efforts to realize the vision of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi for the holistic development of religious institutions across Odisha.

The meeting was attended by Law Department Principal Secretary Manas Ranjan Barik, Endowment Commissioner Lalatendu Jena, Special Secretary Pranab Kumar Patra, Additional Secretaries Shiv Prasad Mahapatra and Bhagaban Prasad Sahu, among other senior officials.