State Government to Develop Grand Saraswati Lok in Dhar: CM Dr. Yadav

Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav has said that the State Government will develop a grand Saraswati Lok at the Bhojshala complex in Dhar and also establish a Raja Bhoj Research Institute there. He said that the State Government will implement the recent order of the Hon’ble High Court regarding the historic Bhojshala in letter and spirit.

Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that Bhojshala, established by Raja Bhojpal, remained for centuries a premier centre of knowledge, science, research and Sanskrit learning. He said that it stands as an enduring symbol of India’s ancient knowledge tradition, where students and scholars from distant places once came to acquire knowledge and engage in scholarly discourse. He said, that the State Government will make every possible effort to revive the glorious legacy of Bhojshala.

Chief Minister Dr. Yadav, addressing the state-level programme of the Jal Ganga Samvardhan Abhiyan in Dhar on Monday, said that a new wave of all-round development would now flow through Dhar, the sacred land of Raja Bhoj. He said that all-round development works would be undertaken in and around Dhar in coordination with the Archaeological Department.

Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that Raja Bhoj was a pioneer of water conservation. The massive reservoirs, ponds and water management systems developed during his reign continue to reflect his extraordinary vision and expertise in water planning. He stated that Dhar was once known as the city of ponds, where Raja Bhoj had constructed the historic ‘Saadhe Barah Talabs’ and interconnected them in such a way that excess water from one pond automatically flowed into another, ensuring an uninterrupted water supply to the city.

Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that the Jal Ganga Samvardhan Abhiyan is ushering in a new revolution in water conservation across the state. He said that Dhar district currently ranks sixth in effective implementation of the campaign, after Khandwa, Barwani, Ashoknagar, Rajgarh and Dindori. More than 5,000 water conservation works have been completed in rural areas of the district, while 64 ancient baolis and ponds are being conserved and restored in the Dhar municipal area.

On the occasion of Ganga Dussehra, statewide water conservation programmes were organised across Madhya Pradesh. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav participated in the state-level event held in Dhar and announced the construction of a grand Saraswati Lok in honour of Maa Vagdevi. He also announced that a Raja Bhoj Research Institute would be established in Dhar, the karmabhoomi of Raja Bhoj. He informed that a museum dedicated to Raja Bhoj is also being developed in Bhopal.

Union Minister of State for Women and Child Development Smt. Savitri Thakur, Urban Development and Housing and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, as well as Dhar district in-charge Minister Shri Kailash Vijayvargiya, Dhar MLA Smt. Neena Vikram Verma, MLA Shri Kalu Singh Thakur and other public representatives and citizens were present on the occasion.

Chief Minister Dr. Yadav also performed Bhoomi-Poojan for 12 development works worth Rs 88.04 crore in Dhar district. These included the construction of a four-lane high-level bridge on the Lebad-Ghatabillod road over the Chambal river at a cost of Rs 27.21 crore. The Chief Minister announced financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh each from the State Government for the nearest family members of three martyrs — late Ban Singh ji, late Antar Singh ji and late Lakshman Singh ji — who had laid down their lives during the Bhojshala movement. He paid tributes to the martyrs through a moment of silence. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav also distributed benefits under various government welfare schemes to eligible beneficiaries at the stage.

Chief Minister Dr. Yadav visited Bhojshala, offered darshan of Maa Vagdevi and performed traditional Poojan-Archan, praying for the prosperity of the state and happiness of its people.

Grand Saraswati Lok and Raja Bhoj Research Institute to Come Up in Dhar

Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that the recent decision of the Hon’ble High Court marks the culmination of a 750-year-long struggle and heralds the beginning of a new era in Dhar. Expressing gratitude to the judiciary, he congratulated the people of the state and said that Dhar has emerged as one of the leading districts in the industrial category in Madhya Pradesh. He said that with the blessings of Maa Vagdevi, the State Government is committed to accelerate the pace of development.

Madhya Pradesh Leading Country in Water Conservation

Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has initiated several major efforts for water conservation across the country and Madhya Pradesh has emerged as the leading state in this field. He said this is a matter of pride for the people of the state. He informed that a target of 2,42,188 water conservation works has been set with public participation across Madhya Pradesh. Works worth Rs 2,500 crore are currently continuing under the campaign. So far, 89,772 wells have been recharged, more than 55,000 farm ponds and 105 Amrit Sarovars have been developed across the state. Lakhs of Jaldoots have also been prepared.

Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that urban local bodies had initially set a target of 2,224 works, but have already completed 9,630 works, which is 433 per cent higher than the target. He added that Madhya Pradesh ranks number one in water conservation activities and that districts such as Khandwa, Barwani, Ashoknagar, Rajgarh, Dindori and Dhar have performed exceptionally well. Watershed development, dugwell recharge and irrigation infrastructure works are also being carried out extensively across the state.

Raja Bhoj’s Legacy Continues to Inspire

Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that the archaeological heritage and Bhojpatras preserved by Raja Bhoj remain invaluable assets of the state. He recalled that Raja Bhoj constructed the world’s largest Shivling at Bhojpur near Bhopal. He said scholars from around the world remain astonished by the engineering behind the construction of Bhopal’s Upper Lake.

He also referred to the 45-foot iron pillar constructed during Raja Bhoj’s reign, noting that Arab historian Al-Biruni had remarked that he had never seen such an iron pillar that had never rusted. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that Raja Bhoj also patronised poets and scholars, rewarding each literary composition with bricks of gold. He said that Raja Bhoj’s life and achievements continue to inspire pride among people even today and that no contemporary ruler matched him in bravery, wisdom, valour and seriousness of purpose.

Chief Minister Dr. Yadav further said that the State Government recently took a prompt decision to hand over the investigation of a prominent case in Bhopal to the CBI, and the Supreme Court has appreciated the State Government’s decision. He said that while courts deliver judgments, the State Government ensures their implementation in letter and spirit. He asserted that the Madhya Pradesh Government would leave no stone unturned in ensuring development across the state.