http://www.deccanchronicle.com//chennai/temples-state-suffer-rs-2640-cr-revenue-loss-748
Feb. 17: In the last 10 years, around 148 temples in the state under the control of Hindu religious and charitable endowments department have incurred a revenue loss of Rs 2,640 crore, according to the response to an RTI petition.
Mr V. Thiagarajan, state president of the Hindu Baktha Jana Sabai, told Deccan Chronicle that it was the mismanagement by temple administrations that caused such a huge revenue loss. The temples usually generate revenue through various means such as renting out shops, houses and lands besides auctioning of parking lots and sale of temple pooja tickets etc.
"There is no denying the fact that majority of the temples has been blessed with good revenue," he said. "The audit report also points out that administrative mismanagement has led to revenue loss."
Several important temples in Tamil Nadu figure in the list including Palani Murugan Temple (`68 crore), Meenakshiamman Temple (`40 crore), Tiruttani temple (`7 crore), Tiruparankundram temple (`9 crore), Chennai Kaligambal temple (`7 crore) and Marudamalai Subramaniasamy Temple (`7 crore).
Usually a joint sitting of the top honchos of the endowments department comprising the commissioner, additional commissioner and joint secretary is held every year to discuss threadbare the objections raised in the audit report.
"However, no such meeting has been held in the last 10 years raising doubts of large-scale irregularities by the temple administration," said Mr Thiagarajan.
Despite a directive from the Madras High Court asking the endowments commissioner to take steps for the recovery of amount from the temple trust board and the executive officers of the respective temples, no action has been taken so far, said Mr Thiagarajan.
The Hindu Baktha Jana Sabai would file civil suit against the endowments department if it fails to act, he added.
Meanwhile, a memorandum has been sent to the Chief Minister, Dr M. Karunanidhi, seeking his intervention in directing the endowments commissioner to initiate recovery.
The HR&CE commissioner, Mr P.R. Sampath, refused to speak on the issue but another official, on condition of anonymity, said that both the trustees of temple trust board and the executive officers were pulling strings to get the arrears waived.
Feb. 17: In the last 10 years, around 148 temples in the state under the control of Hindu religious and charitable endowments department have incurred a revenue loss of Rs 2,640 crore, according to the response to an RTI petition.
Mr V. Thiagarajan, state president of the Hindu Baktha Jana Sabai, told Deccan Chronicle that it was the mismanagement by temple administrations that caused such a huge revenue loss. The temples usually generate revenue through various means such as renting out shops, houses and lands besides auctioning of parking lots and sale of temple pooja tickets etc.
"There is no denying the fact that majority of the temples has been blessed with good revenue," he said. "The audit report also points out that administrative mismanagement has led to revenue loss."
Several important temples in Tamil Nadu figure in the list including Palani Murugan Temple (`68 crore), Meenakshiamman Temple (`40 crore), Tiruttani temple (`7 crore), Tiruparankundram temple (`9 crore), Chennai Kaligambal temple (`7 crore) and Marudamalai Subramaniasamy Temple (`7 crore).
Usually a joint sitting of the top honchos of the endowments department comprising the commissioner, additional commissioner and joint secretary is held every year to discuss threadbare the objections raised in the audit report.
"However, no such meeting has been held in the last 10 years raising doubts of large-scale irregularities by the temple administration," said Mr Thiagarajan.
Despite a directive from the Madras High Court asking the endowments commissioner to take steps for the recovery of amount from the temple trust board and the executive officers of the respective temples, no action has been taken so far, said Mr Thiagarajan.
The Hindu Baktha Jana Sabai would file civil suit against the endowments department if it fails to act, he added.
Meanwhile, a memorandum has been sent to the Chief Minister, Dr M. Karunanidhi, seeking his intervention in directing the endowments commissioner to initiate recovery.
The HR&CE commissioner, Mr P.R. Sampath, refused to speak on the issue but another official, on condition of anonymity, said that both the trustees of temple trust board and the executive officers were pulling strings to get the arrears waived.
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