Govt issues notification stopping funds for temple development, withdraws it after furore

BENGALURU: Much confusion prevailed in government circles over a notification issued to stop all temple renovation and development work till Hindu Religious Institutions And Charitable Endowments Department Minister Ramalinga Reddy announced that he had directed the officials to withdraw the notification.

The department had earlier issued a notification, dated August 14, that all funds allocated to temples during the previous BJP government for 2022-23 for development should be stopped.

The notification said that funds should not be released for works that have been approved but not yet taken up, till further orders. Where administrative approval has been given and 50 per cent of the funds released, works should not be taken up if it has not been started and where proposals have been accepted for administrative approval, they should await further orders.

After the issue created a storm, Minister Ramalinga Reddy said, “I have instructed the department commissioner clearly to withdraw the notification. Why should release of funds be stopped if 50 per cent of it has already been released? The commissioner got confused, there are no doubts about any illegality in the works and none of the works will be stopped. I had just sought a status report”.

Endowment Department Commissioner Basavarajendra told Public TV that the notification was issued on August 14 due to some ‘miscommunication’. “The notification was issued without bringing it to the notice of the minister or the secretary and it is now being withdrawn. Works are going on at temples coming under the department across the districts. The notification was issued due to some miscommunication at our level”, he added.