Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursdsay announced the Hanuman Lok project in Madhya Pradesh’s Chhindwara, a stronghold of former CM Kamal Nath and the home of a 101-foot statue of Lord Hanuman that the Congress leader had built.
Chouhan also announced the creation of a new district, Pandhurna, which will be carved out of Chhindwara district. The tehsils of Pandhurna, Sausar, and Nandnawadi will be merged to form the new district.
Chouhan took part in the foundation laying ceremony for Hanuman Lok at Jamsavli Hanuman temple in Chhindwara. The project, officials said, would be developed along the lines of the Mahakal Lok corridor. The project, to be built in two phases, is estimated to cost Rs 314 crore. “Hanuman Lok will become a centre of spiritual and cultural consciousness for India,” Chauhan said.
In the first courtyard of Hanuman Lok, Lord Hanuman’s child form will be depicted in different ways through artwork and sculptures covering an area of approximately 90,000 square feet. The second courtyard will see the portrayal of Lord Hanuman in ‘devotional form’ through sculptures and artwork covering an area of around 62,000 square feet.
Chouhan announced multiple development projects in the area , including a Rs 848-crore water supply scheme.
The Congress said the Hanuman Lok project announcement was “a false announcement to mislead the people”. Party spokesperson K K Mishra said, “No matter how much the BJP tries to surround Kamal Nath politically, they will fail.”