OMG! Temple trustees gobbling funds

​Hyderabad: In a strange case of fence eating crops, temple trust board members in the State appointed by the government to take up development activities have allegedly been using temples for their own popularity and eating away the funds in many temples. The authorities are said to be wracking their brains without knowing what to do with the proposals from the trust boards. 

The government generally nominates philanthropists for taking care of temples and during the recent times, trust boards formed by the government have been occupied by political leaders. According to department sources, these trust boards have been pressurising officials to release funds, more than what they are prescribed to use. Some of the temple trust board members had even threatened executive officers of dire consequences and as result the EOs have been complaining to the higherups, it is learnt. 

Recently, the department officials had a tough time explaining to the trust board members of Sitaramachandra Swamy temple in Illanthakunta that they could not provide Rs 26 lakh for tent works alone. A senior official said the temple funds should be used for development activities and asset creations but that was not happening in many temples across the State. The official said the trust board had sought sanction of Rs 26 lakh for tent/pandals works during the Sri Ramanavami festival celebrations. 

Sources said when the temple EO had sent the estimates, the higher officials rejected the proposal. Now, the EO concerned had been threatened by the trust members, said sources. At some places the nominated members have allegedly withdrawn the FDs of the temple. Sources said the members of Sri Venkateshwara Swamy temple in Karimnagar had allegedly withdrawn fixed deposits (FDs) of the temple to meet the expenditure of the Brahmotsavams of the temple. Sources said the management had withdrawn FD of Rs 10 lakh for meeting the expenditure. 

The Executive Officer of the Hanuman temple in Vijayanagar Colony in Hyderabad was allegedly threatened by anti-social elements for not listening to the dictate from the members. It is learnt that the EO concerned was transferred on Tuesday. A temple EO said there were some trust board members, who spent from their own resources. If the members could manoeuvre funds from their resources, there would be no restrictions by the department, the EO added.   

Sources said the government would soon issue a new notification for appointment of the nominated members. Devalaya Rakshana Samithi president D Deepak Kumar said the temple committees should be apolitical and philanthropists should be given priority in the managing committee.