Animal sacrifice banned at Puradamma temple in Hassan taluk

AC issues orders following the report submitted by KSPCB

Assistant Commissioner (AC) H L Nagaraju has issued orders, banning animal sacrifice at Chowdeshwari (Puradamma) temple at Beekanahalli in the taluk.

It may be mentioned that devotees from across the district and also from North Karnataka districts visit the temple every day and sacrifice animals and fowls. Except on Mondays, animals are sacrificed throughout the week, and the whole area resemble a pool of blood and animal waste. According to a temple employee, approximately 100 pigs, 300 sheep, thousands of fowls are sacrificed every day, leaving the entire area polluted.
A few devotees brought this to the notice of AC recently, who in turn alerted the district unit of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB). The team, which inspected the spot, submitted a report to the AC.

The AC has banned animal sacrifice on the temple premises, based on the report, as per Karnataka Animal Prevention Act. He has also directed the tahsildar to take steps to clean the premises and to put up a board on temple premises informing the public about the ban.

When contacted, Nagaraju said, necessary measures have been taken to prevent the outbreak of epidemics. The devotees also dump plastic and animal waste at the temple pond, polluting it. Moreover, several incidents of clashes have been reported from the temple as the devotees quarrel in an inebriated condition, he said.

Hundi collection
The AC said that a sum of Rs 1 crore has been realised through hundi collection, last year. Rs 1.87 crore collected through offerings by the devotees, this year, has been deposited in the bank.

The temple will be developed at a cost of Rs 1 crore and a compound will be constructed. A community hall, two toilets, parking lot, office and an exclusive kitchen at a cost of Rs 50 lakh would be constructed, he added.