<p>Bengaluru: The Akhila Karnataka Archakara, Agamikara Mattu Upadhivanthara Okkoota (Karnataka federation of priests, agama scholars and temple workers) on Sunday appealed to Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot to approve the amendment to the Muzrai Act, which aims to support the development of lesser-income ‘category C’ temples through proportional revenue sharing from wealthier ‘A’ and ‘B’ grade temples.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Speaking to reporters, federation president Prof K E Radhakrishna and general secretary K S N Deekshit questioned the governor’s decision to return the amendment file. </p>.<p class="bodytext">“If the amendment is approved, a portion of the surplus income from major temples can be allocated to category ‘C’ temples, significantly aiding their development. We don’t understand why the governor has sent the file back,” Radhakrishna wondered.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The federation demanded that the archaeology and muzrai departments must jointly conduct a time-bound survey of the assets of historic temples and allocate Rs 500 crore for their development. </p>.<p class="bodytext">Radhakrishna and Dikshit claimed that nearly one lakh acres of temple land had been encroached illegally, even in urban areas like Bengaluru, where temple lands were in the hands of influential individuals. </p>.<p class="bodytext">Deekshit urged the government to implement the A Ramaswamy committee report to reclaim these properties.</p>
<p>Bengaluru: The Akhila Karnataka Archakara, Agamikara Mattu Upadhivanthara Okkoota (Karnataka federation of priests, agama scholars and temple workers) on Sunday appealed to Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot to approve the amendment to the Muzrai Act, which aims to support the development of lesser-income ‘category C’ temples through proportional revenue sharing from wealthier ‘A’ and ‘B’ grade temples.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Speaking to reporters, federation president Prof K E Radhakrishna and general secretary K S N Deekshit questioned the governor’s decision to return the amendment file. </p>.<p class="bodytext">“If the amendment is approved, a portion of the surplus income from major temples can be allocated to category ‘C’ temples, significantly aiding their development. We don’t understand why the governor has sent the file back,” Radhakrishna wondered.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The federation demanded that the archaeology and muzrai departments must jointly conduct a time-bound survey of the assets of historic temples and allocate Rs 500 crore for their development. </p>.<p class="bodytext">Radhakrishna and Dikshit claimed that nearly one lakh acres of temple land had been encroached illegally, even in urban areas like Bengaluru, where temple lands were in the hands of influential individuals. </p>.<p class="bodytext">Deekshit urged the government to implement the A Ramaswamy committee report to reclaim these properties.</p>