Speed up plans, allot funds for Sita temple in Lanka: MP CM

Congress-led Madhya Pradesh government will construct a grand temple for Sita in Sri Lanka and Chief Minister Kamal Nath on Monday asked officials to prepare a plan and allot funds. He also directed that Sri Lankan government officials and members of Mahabodhi Society be included in committee that will be formed to monitor progress of construction and adherence to deadlines, said an MP public relations department official on Monday.

Nath asked officials to finalise design of temple and arrange for funds in current fiscal itself, official informed. decision was made after Nath a chaired a meeting with a delegation led by state Public Relations Minister PC Sharma, in which office-bearers of Mahabodhi Society were also present, he said.

Nath also directed officials to allot land in Sanchi for construction of a Buddha museum, research and training centre of international standard. CM also informed that Mahabodhi society president, Japan and companies of or countries have offered financial assistance for development of Sanchi.

On occasion Sharma informed about his recent visit to Sri Lanka and discussions held with officials re on Sita temple construction. Sharma said Buddhists from Sri Lanka and or countries would arrive in large numbers in Sanchi if better air services are provided, and people from here would also be able to go to island nation to pray at Sita temple.

construction of a Sita temple in Sri Lanka was first mooted by n chief minister and BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan in 2012 when n Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa had visited Sanchi to lay foundation stone of an international Buddha university.