Ranchi, Apr 1 The Jharkhand High Court on Wednesday directed the state tourism secretary Mukesh Kumar and Ramgarh Deputy Commissioner Faiz Aq Ahmed Mumtaz to conduct a survey of the Maa Chinnamastika Temple in Rajrappa and submit a beautification proposal before it.
A bench of Justices Sujit Narayan Prasad and Sanjay Prasad issued the directions while hearing a petition alleging non-compliance with earlier court orders on the development of the temple premises.
The court fixed the next date of hearing on April 24 and ordered the officers to ensure that proper barricading is done near the Bhairavi River beside the temple.
Observing that several devotees had drowned in the river due to lack of adequate safety measures, the bench stressed the need for immediate steps to prevent such incidents.
The court also asked the state government whether Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) had contributed towards the development of the temple or facilities for devotees under its corporate social responsibility initiatives.
The court was informed in the course of arguments that several mines abandoned by the CCL after excavation of coal have been converted into water tanks,
and fish cultivation has been promoted.
Noting that such water bodies could pose a threat to devotees, the bench directed that steps be taken to fill them up.
The court ordered the chairman-cum-managing director of CCL, the water resources department secretary, along with the tourism secretary and the Ramgarh deputy commissioner, to remain present on the next date of hearing.
The petitioner, Sanjeev Kumar, had filed a contempt plea seeking implementation of the High Court’s September 2023 directions for beautification of the temple and its surrounding areas.
The HC had earlier directed the Ramgarh district administration and the tourism department to ensure development and improvement of the temple premises.
