GUWAHATI, Dec 27 - Guwahati Refinery has sanctioned Rs 33.41 lakh for construction of the ground floor of a proposed rest house cum toilet building complex for priests and pilgrims at the Navagraha Devalaya here.
S Manchanda, Executive Director (Guwahati Refinery), handed over a cheque for the amount to Atul Sarma, District Development Commissioner, Kamrup (Metro) and other members of the Devalaya management committee during a meeting organised at the temple today.
The fund has been allocated under the CSR initiatives of Guwahati Refinery.
The proposed new building complex will house a meeting hall, office rooms, community kitchen, pilgrims� rest hall, toilets and an astrological research centre to be maintained by the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC). The Kamrup (Metro) district administration will execute the construction of the facility at the historic temple.
In his speech, Manchanda lauded the initiative and urged all the stakeholders to contribute towards development of the historic temple in order to uphold its legacy.
The members of the temple management committee expressed their gratitude to the refinery authorities for the support.
The meeting was also attended by senior officials from Kamrup (Metro) district administration and Guwahati Refinery, besides priests and other devotees of the temple.
The Navagraha Devalaya atop the Chitrachal hillock was built by Ahom King Swargadeo Rajeswar Singha in 1752 AD as a centre of excellence in Vedic astrological studies and research. The Devalaya�s reputation in astrological sciences attracts huge numbers of pilgrims from all over India and neighbouring countries.
