Uttarakhand Orders Probe into Illegal Construction of Temple Near Sacred Lake

A self-styled godman has been living in a temple for the last 10-12 days. It is alleged that he convinced some locals to help him construct the temple in an eco-sensitive zone by claiming to have received divine orders in a dream. Upon receiving an application from concerned locals, the matter was referred to the police for investigation, as confirmed by Bageshwar District Magistrate Anuradha Pal.

The temple, built in a difficult-to-reach area that is closed during the monsoon, has been constructed illegally on no man’s land, according to Superintendent of Police (SP) Akshay Prahlad Konde. It is reported that the self-styled godman has been living in the temple and bathing in the sacred lake, Devi Kund, which has led to resentment among nearby residents who consider it an act of desecration. While some locals were convinced to help build the temple, others were not swayed by the godman’s claims and sought intervention from the administration.

The police are examining the situation from a law and order perspective, and the forest department will need to be involved for any action against the encroachment in the eco-sensitive zone. The godman’s background is being investigated, and it is suggested that he has a questionable character and uses different names. He has reportedly been denied shelter in other places before arriving at the current location.