Bhadradri temple eyes reserve funds to pay priests' salaries

Khammam: Even Lord Rama seems to be facing a recession due to Covid-19. The Devasthanam of Sri Sita Ramachandra Swamy in Bhadrachalam is wondering how to pay salaries to its priests and employees for the month of May since it had not earned any revenue since the national lockdown was announced. The temple depends solely on 'hundi' collections and Arjitha Sevas.

The officials have managed to pay half salaries of priest and employees for March and April. The Devasthanam requires nearly Rs 60 lakh for paying 50 per cent of the salaries. With no income, the authorities are facing problems even to maintain the temple.

It takes about Rs 10 lakh to maintain the temple.If the temple is to be re-opened following Covid guidelines, then the authorities will have to spend more money to ensure social distancing and safety of the devotees.The temple nearly has 100 staff with 60 priests, 40 employees and some outsourced staffers. With half salaries, the staff are left high and dry.

"We are planning to urge the government to sanction a loan or give permission for withdrawal from the reserve fund of Rs 6 crore for paying salaries of priest and employees. There are 446 small and 72 big temples in the erstwhile Khammam district and most of the temples are facing maintenance problems. However, pujas are going on without interruption in the temple every day," said Executive Officer Narasimhulu.