CM agrees to two shrines for Dev Khapreshwar in Porvorim

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte seen praying at the old Dev Khapreshwar shrine in Porvorim.

Photo Credits: Anil Shankhwalker

PORVORIM

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday said there would be two shrines for Dev Khapreshwar in Porvorim, with one shrine to be built at the old site and the other shrine to be built at the new site.

Sawant was speaking to media persons after he along with Tourism Minister and Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte had gone to inspect both sites of Dev Khapreshwar on Monday afternoon.

A few months ago, the banyan tree was translocated from Vodakadde for the widening of the NH66 highway and the idol of Dev Khapreshwar had been shifted from the old site by the PWD.

Later, a division emerged between the temple committee and a group of devotees over the location to reconstruct the demolished Dev Khapreshwar Temple in Porvorim.

While the temple committee had insisted that the temple be rebuilt at the same location at Vodakadde, a group of devotees of Dev Khapreshwar are reported to have shortlisted a site near the Alcon showroom in Succoro. These devotees is reported to have also obtained the ‘Prasad’ at a temple in Socorro to rebuild a new Dev Khapreshwar temple and that, they had also identified the new location for the temple.

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Tourism Minister and Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte then gave them a green signal to go ahead with the construction of a new shrine at the new location.

Stating that he is not against any God, Sawant said the Banyan tree and the shrine of Dev Khapreshwar were shifted for widening of the national highway and to facilitate the construction of the elevated corridor.

“Now, the issue has been resolved. I have directed the contractor to construct a shrine at the old location of Dev Khapreshwar in an area of 3x4 metres and also a new shrine at the site selected opposite Alcon showroom,” said Sawant.

Khaunte stated that the alignment of the national highway and the flyover were carried out as per the consent letter issued to the Supreme Court by parties affected due to widening of National Highway NH66 and Porvorim flyover.

“Accordingly, the shrine of Dev Khapreshwar was shifted to new site in Socorro and the banyan tree was translocated. The chief minister had agreed to reconstruct the shrine at the old place as well as at the new location as per the wishes of devotees. It is for this reason that the chief minister had visited Socorro and carried out s joint inspection to resolve the issue,” said Khaunte.