The state government has proposed to create a database of about 4.78 lakh acres of temple lands as part of its efforts to prevent encroachments of temple properties.
Also, for the first time, the government would introduce wind and solar hybrid energy system at select four temples in the state to meet the power requirements of the temple and institutions coming under its control.
Wrapping up the debate on the demand for grants for the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department on Wednesday, HR & CE minister M. S. M. Anandan said the database would be created for the benefit of officials to ascertain the particulars on lands and other properties of the temples, at one touch and thereby prevent encroachment of temple lands and ensure their retrieval, apart from collecting lease amounts on time from persons who had leased the land or property.
“A software detailing moveable and immoveable properties belonging to various temples, mutts and trusts under the control of the HR & CE department had already been created for the purpose,” Mr Anandan said.
Mr Anandan announced that for the first time, the government would introduce wind and hybrid solar energy system in select four temples: Sri Ranganatha Swamy temple, Srirangam, Sri Dhandayuthapani temple at Palani, Sri Bhagawathy Amman temple at Kanyakumari and Sri Subrahmanya Swamy temple at Tiruchendur on an outlay of Rs 5 crore.
Further, the government would construct annadhanam halls in 21 temples at the cost of Rs 4.5 crore, undertake renovation at 43 ancient temples for Rs 22.5 crore, establish rest rooms for devotees at the cost of Rs 3 crore at several temples, besides accord recognition to private Agama schools.
For the first time, the department would directly appoint architects to take up restoration work at ancient temples, as per the instruction of chief minister J. Jayalalithaa. Hitherto, the engineers from PWD and Highways department have been assisting in the renovation.
CM hikes wages of agitating sugarmill workers
In order to bring an end to the month-long strike by workers of cooperative and public sector sugar mills, chief minister Jayalalithaa on Wednesday announced a monthly wage hike ranging between Rs 1,595 and Rs 1,907 per month to workers and expressed hope that they will withdraw their agitation and resume work.
In a suo motu statement in the Assembly, Ms Jayalalithaa said the sugar mill workers had been striking work from April 4 seeking salary hike. “The government has decided to hike the salary of workers considering their welfare,” she said.
The chief minister said that an ad hoc payment of 90 per cent under South Indian Sugar Mills Association agreement was implemented in 2010 and the rest 10 per cent will be immediately disbursed, she said while announcing another 25 per cent of the basic pay.
“Due to these measurers, workers will get an increase ranging between Rs 1,595 and Rs 1,907 per month,” she said, adding, the sugar mills will incur an additional expenditure of Rs 15.26 crore due to the hike.
Due to pending court cases, a formal wage agreement could not be arrived at and it would be done once the cases ended, she said and expressed hope that workers withdraw their strike and resume work immediately.
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