Muzrai Minister Kota Srinivas Poojary announced in Mysore on Friday that 25 B category temples in the State would be developed to attract tourists.
He was speaking to presspersons after holding a review meeting with officials of the district administration and his department.
A sum of Rs. 1 crore each would be released for the development of such temples where a children’s park would be established, tourist guides appointed and information cells set up. Summer camps could be introduced on studying religious texts, he indicated.
Asked about the reported opposition from certain quarters on developing temples to attract tourists, Mr. Poojari did not give a clear answer. To whether drawing tourists to pilgrimage centres would harm religious sentiments, Mr. Poojari stated that care would be exercised to steer clear of any such issues.
He said that he had placed a demand before the State government to make provisions for appointment of an engineering section for the Muzrai Department in view of works relating to development, renovation and repairs taking place every year.
The issue would be discussed at the Dharmika Parishat meeting scheduled in Bangalore on September 26.
Revenue low
Speaking at the review meeting earlier he admitted that the revenue of Muzrai temples were low for various reasons.
District in-charge S.A. Ramdas stated that there were over 1,200 temples in Mysore district, most of which were crying for attention. He said that a survey would be taken to assess the cost of renovations and repairs of temples in the district within a month and sought 50 per cent of the funds from the Muzrai Department. He said he would take steps to organise the rest of the funds by raising donations.
Mr. Ramdas also drew the attention of Mr. Poojari on the shortage of staff in the Muzrai Department coming under the Deputy Commissioner’s office, seeking to fill the vacancies. A decision could even be taken to outsource the employees, he suggested to the Minister.
Mr. Poojari admitted that many temples could not function properly owing to shortage of staff and lack of transparency in administration and his department was seized of the matter. The issue of making applicable the Sixth Pay Commission wages to Muzrai temple employees at certain places, based on their demands, too was being looked into, Mr. Poojari stated.
MLC Siddaraju, Deputy Commissioner P.S. Vastrad, Additional Regional Commissioner K.M. Chandre Gowda and Mysore Urban Development Authority Commissioner C.G. Betsurmath were present.
