Shimla (PTI): The Centre has agreed to relocate 12 of the 28 submerged temples in Gobind Sagar lake at Bhakra Dam reservoir in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal in Shimla on Thursday.

The Archaeological Survey of India has declared the temples, which have been under water for over four decades, as monuments of "national importance", this was conveyed to the state government by Union Tourism Minister Ambika Soni.

Dhumal said in a statement that he had raised the matter with Soni highlighting the sentiments of the residents of Bilaspur town who had been worshipping the temple deities for generations.

Dhumal said the the Centre respected the sentiments of displaced people during the Nagarjuna sagar and Narmada valley projects and the same should be done in the state. He said the locals had allowed submersion of their temples to pave the way for the completion of first hydro electric power plant of the country in 1963.

Dhumal said out of the 28 temples submerged into the water, 12 were of great archaeological importance belonging to 8th and 19th century AD period.

Many such temples are partially visible when the water recedes during winters and early summer months.