Manipal: Govt will not release funds for pooja in temples - Minister

Pics By Snehalatha, Udupi
Bellevision Media Network

• There are 155 temples with annual income of more than ` 25 lakh’

 

Manipal, 22 Jul 2012: There is drought situation in most of the districts of the state, for ward away fear of farmers, agriculture sector has arranged for seeds supply.  Gramina Development department has arranged for the water supply.  Tax department is trying its best to solve the current problem and in the same way we Muzrai (Religious Endowment) department have ordered to conduct Special Poojas at all the temples, What is wrong in this??  Questioned State Muzrai minister Kota Srinivas Poojari.

 

 

He was speaking to media persons on the occasion of starting his department at Udupi Jilla Office.

 
At the same time CM Shettar via telephone asked clarifications from minister on the controversy of money allocated for Special Poojas for rains.   Answering his call Minister said that let this topic come in the parliament, I will clarify.  There is no danger as complained by the opposition.  Muzrai department not even released a single paisa for this purpose, forget about 17 crores.   These expenses were borne by each temple.  The temples can spend money from their own funds.  However it should not be a waste and hence I have set a limit of Rs.5000/- for a single Pooja, he said.

 
All the departments of the state are doing whatever possible to provide relief to the drought situation.  In this situation Muzrai Department too will participate in reducing the problem of farmers  by arranging Poojas, prayers, homa etc and have ordered all temples to organize prayers and special poojas.  Kota Shrinivas conveyed to the CM over the mobile phone when asked for his clarifications. 

 
The opposition complains that 17 crores expenses involved in this could have spent for drought relief work.  However, we at Muzrai Department too helping to solve drought situation by holding prayers and poojas he answered to the media people when he was questioned on this issue.