Konark, July 28, 2013: Union Culture Minister Chandresh Kumari Katoch on Sunday urged Petroleum Minister M. Veerappa Moily to arrange finance for restoring the badly damaged Kedarnath temple in Uttarakhand.

“The Kedarnath temple is in danger and in a very bad shape. Take this up as a major project and arrange finance for its restoration”, Ms. Katoch requested Mr. Moily in Konark.

Ms. Katoch’s request to Mr. Moily came at the foundation laying function for the development of tourist facilities at the famous Sun Temple by Archaeological Survey of India, National Culture Fund and Indian Oil Foundation.

Kedarnath temple bore the brunt of floods and landslides triggered by the deluge in Uttarakhand on June 16 although the temple, stated to have been built in the 8th century, and the Shivling are safe.

Union Chemicals and Fertiliser Minister Srikanta Jena and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik were also present.

Ms. Katoch said though IOF, a non-profit Trust, was created in 2000 to preserve and promote national heritage sites in collaboration with ASI and National Cultural Fund of the Ministry of Culture, it took 13 years to take off.

“It’s an important decision and Konark has been chosen as the first project for development of facilities”, she said.

Stating that the ministry of culture was always short of money and staff, she urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to provide more funds.

Source: The Hindu, DT. July 28, 2013.