Temple revenue sees staggering increase

From a deficit of Rs. 5.15 lakh, it had a surplus of Rs. 1.74 crore in 2014-15.

Cash coffers at the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple, in the limelight for the past four years after revelations about its treasures in underground vaults, seem to be ringing louder than ever, with the temple’s income registering a staggering increase last year.

The increase, most visible in the ‘Vazhipadu’ income during the Sabarimala season of November-December-January, has been from around Rs.70 lakh in 2013-2014 to nearly Rs.2.75 crore in 2014-2015. The total income too has considerably increased, with a deficit of Rs.5.15 lakh in 2013-2014 becoming a surplus of Rs.1.74 crore in 2014-2015. The increase was pointed out in an affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court by the temple’s executive officer on May 5.

The affidavit also lists out various steps taken over the last year at the temple, ranging from introduction of special entry for senior citizens, regular staff meetings, foolproof system for distribution of prasadam, removing lathis from the guards and giving them ornamental batons, takeover of cloakrooms and bookstalls from contractors and deployment of temple staff to run them, and so on.

The affidavit has revealing comments on several activities of the previous administration, with indications of fraud in the purchase of sandalwood for rituals at the temple.

The affidavit points out that the Forest Department is the only agency authorised to sell sandalwood in the State, and the same can be stocked only under licence from the department. However, the practice in the temple was “piece-meal purchases of sandalwood and substitute items from unauthorised persons, which is prohibited by law.”

It also says that “under the guise of sandalwood, low quality wood was used as sandalwood.”

Further, legal sanction for stocking the same was not obtained.

The executive officer also found that along with the “so-called sandalwood, yellow powder was used in the place of saffron.”

A thorough investigation was necessary into the purchase of sandalwood by the previous administration to ascertain the extent of fraud and misappropriation of temple funds, he says. The present administration had purchased, through a legal auction conducted by the Forest Department, quality sandalwood for Rs.86 lakh, along with licence for stocking. The same was being used in the temple now.