A PIL was filed in the Karnataka High Court today seeking a direction to the state government and the Muzrai (Religious Endowment) department to stop 'pujas' being performed to appease the rain god in the wake of severe drought faced by the state.
In his petition, H S Neelakantappa, a native of Chikmagalur district, claimed Rs 17.5 crore was being spent by the state government for performing various pujas to appease the rain god, which "is illogical".
He sought a direction to the state government to stop such rituals and instead spend the money for drought relief.
The State Muzrai Minister Kota Srinivas Poojari had told the state Legislative Council yesterday that expenditure for special pujas planned in over 34,000 temples would be met by collecting funds from devotees.