Puri: The state government has decided to set up a solar power plant including air-circulators and air-conditioners at the Sri Jagannath temple premises soon.

According to Arabinda Padhee, Revenue Divisional Commissioner, Central Range, and chief administrator of Sri Jagannath Temple Administration, the Odisha Renewal Energy Development Agency (OREDA) has been assigned to install a of Solar Photo Voltaic (SPV) power plant inside the temple at a projected cost of Rs 39.42 lakh sanctioned by the Centre to the state science and technology department.

An air circulator would be installed inside the sanctum sanctorum, while the air-conditioners would be placed at the Jagamohan, the entrance hall to provide relief to the devotees from intense heat, humidity and suffocation during rush hour, Padhee said.

Once the eco-friendly power system goes critical, problems arising out of frequent load-shedding would be solved as the temple will have uninterrupted power supply, he said, adding that the Temple Administration has requested the servitor communities for cooperation in the proposed work that would be taken up soon.

Referring to the sanitation issue inside the temple premises, Padhee said that the Temple Administration would recruit more sweepers in this regard to make the temple premises clean throughout the day.

Besides, the Temple Administration will also take up cleaning work around the Meghanad wall periphery outside the temple, he added.