Government to renovate 20,000 Temples in K’taka

BJP Govt to renovate Hindu temples in K’taka

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BANGALORE, July 16, 2008: The Government has decided to renovate 20,000 temples, which are in dilapidated condition. The Muzrai Department would renovate temples with the financial support of Non-Resident Indians and philanthropists, Minister for Muzrai and Housing S.N. Krishnaiah Setty told presspersons on Wednesday.

There were no archaks in a majority of the temples and daily poojas were being conducted in about 20,000 temples belonged to the Muzrai Department in the State. A few temples have been generating an annual income of Rs. 100 crore, the minister said.

With the involvement of film stars, sportspersons and NRIs, a campaign would be launched soon in Bangalore to raise funds for renovation works of temples. The local citizens and leaders have been asked to submit detail estimate plans containing information about temple history, location, funds required for renovation, to Deputy Commissioners and tahsildars in all districts. Out of 34,000 temples, only 185 temples have sufficient funds for maintenance.

Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa would lead a delegation to participate in the U.S.-based Association of Kannada Kootas of America’s Kannada conference in Chicago, US. The meet will commence from August 29. The delegation would appeal to the NRIs from Karnataka to donate funds for taking up renovation works of temples, the Minister said.

Hundis (donation boxes)

The department has decided to electronic “hundis” in all temples. The first electronic “hundi” will be established at the Banashankari temple in the City soon. Tenders would be invited to set up such “hundis”. The cost of each “hundi” would be around Rs. 1.5 lakh, he said.

On encroachment of lands belonged to temples, the minister said a squad would be constituted to recover such lands.

Rs. 80 crore Master Plan to renovate Kukke temple

BANGALORE: The State Government has prepared a Rs. 80 crore Master Plan for renovation of the Kukke Subramanya temple located in rural village called Subramanya in the Western Ghats of the State, about 105 km from the coastal town Mangalore.

The temple is one of the famous pilgrimage sites in the state. A sum of Rs. 80 crore of the temple funds would be utilized for renovation work of the temple, construction of guesthouse, commercial complex, booking counter, bus-stand and other facilities. The work would be launched soon and would be completed in a year, Minister for Muzrai S. N. Krishnaiah Setty told presspersons on Wednesday.

 

Kukke Subramanya is on the bank of river Kumaradhara. There are quite a few guest houses at Kukke. The funds would be utilized for construction of more guest houses for providing accommodation for visiting pilgrims from the other parts of the country and abroad, he said.

Kukke Subramanya was in the news last year when cricketers Sachin Tendulkar, Robin Utthappa and film celebrities such as Shilpa Shetty and the Kapoor family visited the temple.

Tirupathi Temple

A decision has also been taken to construct a 1,000 room guesthouse on 7.5 acres, land adjoining the Lord Venkateswara Temple at Tirumala in Tirupathi, for providing accommodation for pilgrims visiting the temple from Karnataka.

Mr Setty said that the land dispute between the State Government and the Andhra Pradesh Government has been resolved. An agreement would be signed soon between two states for construction of the guesthouse. Thousands of devotees have come forward to donate funds for the construction of the guesthouse which would be built in a span of two years, the Minister said.
The land dispute had come to the surface over the past decade after the Karnataka Government stated that the land belonged to it and the Andhra Pradesh Government claimed that the land was taken over by that Government in 1958.

The 7.5-acre land was donated by the then Maharaja of Mysore and after the formation of the State the land became a Government property. Over the last few years, the State Government has given a narrow piece of this land to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams to widen the road adjoining the Lord Venkateshwara Temple.

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