Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 24: Mahant Rajesh Bittu of Radha Madhav Trust R.S. Pura, who is always keen towards the development of temples and pilgrim places, today visited Village Sagoon situated at Surinsar Mansar road along with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) State Executive Member, Raman Suri to take stock of the deteriorated condition of the area and its temples.
During their visit, they discussed various important village development issues with Kuldeep Singh (Panch), Omkar Dutt and Bishan Dutt (who have renovated the 200 years old Radha Krishan and Narsingh Temple), Naresh Samyal who is looking after the ancient Aap Shambhu Temple situated at the hill and other prominent people of the area.
Raman Suri and Mahant Rajesh Bittu also visited the Gram Devta. The local people of Sagoon village have lot of respect for the Gram Devta and they believe that Gram Devta protects the area and its people from all evils. Also, the people, very keenly narrated to them, the history of Surinsar and Mansar lake, dating back to Pandavas era.
The locals also apprised them of the poor condition of holy Devika river, that passes through the village and expressed their anger over the two boards beside Holy Devika river with “Devak Nallah” written over them instead of “Holy Devika”. On one hand, the people worship holy Devika and on the other hand, this blunder by the administration has generated a lot of resentment among the people.
Raman Suri said that Devika is a holy river and urged the administration for immediate removal of the existing boards and their replacement with new “holy Devika” or “Devika Maiya” boards.
Devika originates from Sudh Mahadev and flows through Udhampur, Jindrah, Sagoon and Tlaed, after which it takes the form of Gupt Ganga from Purmandal and then flows in the same form through Utter Behni and Aerma. People of the area demanded construction of a small bridge and Ghat at Holy Devika river, and also complete development near the ancient Aap Shambhu Temple, for which Raman Suri affirmed that he will definitely take up the matter with concerned authorities and the work will commence soon.
Raman Suri urged the Government to develop holy Devika on the pattern of Namami Gangea. He added that the Surinsar-Mansar area can be developed and promoted as a “Parikrama”, with route as Sidhra-Bajalta-Surinsar-Mansar-Purmandal-Utter Behni-Samba-Chichi Mata-Peerkho and back Sidhra.
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