Autonomous body to manage temples ruled out

By Our Staff Reporter

RAMANATHAPURAM, NOV. 23. The Minister for Official Language and Tamil Culture, Mr. M. Tamizhkudimagan, has ruled out the formation of any autonomous body to control the temple administration in the State as demanded by various Hindu outfits.

He told mediapersons here on Thursday that the administration of temples could not be brought under one umbrella as in the case of churches and mosques because of the different systems of worship in Hinduism.

He, however, noted that the Government was keen to increase revenue from the temple properties.

Around 22,000 acres of temple lands have already been retrieved from the encroachers in different part of the State.

Moreover, `kumbabhisekam' of more than 2,680 temples have also been performed in the last four-and-half years, as against only 828 `kumbabhisekam' during the previous regime.

Water scheme

It has been decided to implement integrated drinking water supply scheme involving an expenditure of Rs. 2.5 crores to eliminate water scarcity in the R.S. Mangalam areas.

A sum of Rs. 2.61 crores has been earmarked to renovate 13 supply channels of R.S. Mangalam tank, one the biggest in Asia. The Government has allotted Rs. 1.70 crores to desilt 28 tanks attached to R.S. Mangalam big tank.

Around 11,500 acres of cultivable lands in the area will benefit with the desilting of 28 tanks and 13 supply channels. A sum of Rs. 1.25 crores has been earmarked for implementing integrated drinking water supply scheme at Kavanakottai in Elayankudi Assembly constituency, said Mr. Thamizhkudimagan.

Farmers' market

As a part of setting up farmers' markets in the town panchayats, works are on to establish the first town panchayat-level farmer's market at R.S. Mangalam in the district. Also, the Government has decided to set up another market at Elayankudi in Sivagangai district. Expressing concern over the poor response to the mini- bus service in the district, the Minister said steps would be taken to operate more mini-buses in unserved areas.

Though the Government has accorded permission for 250 mini-bus routes in the district, operators have come forward to operate buses only on seven routes, he lamented.

Mr. Tamizudeen, District Collector, Mr. S.N. Seshasai, Superintendent of Police, Mr. Anand Patil, Sub-Collector, and other officials participated.

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