Puri November 18:The Sri Jagannath Temple Managing Committee on Tuesday approved Rs 154 crore budget for Srimandir for 2020-21 financial year, informed the temple chief administrator Krishan Kumar.Speaking to media Kumar said, \u201cThe\u00a0income of Srimandir has nosedived\u00a0due to the current Covid19 pandemic situation, while the temple expenses have increased. In a bid to increase the income of the 12th-century shirne, arrangements will be made for online donations.\u201dThe budget for the temple was tabled today during a high-level meeting chaired by Puri Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb. The gathering was also attended by Puri Collector, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) Superintendent archaeologist and other committee members.<\/p>\n
A discussion on the reopening on the temple and how devotees can have darshan of the Deities was made during the meeting. \u201cArrangements for the holy trinity will be made after, government\u2019s decision on reopening of temples,\u201d the chief administrator informed.<\/p>\n
Earlier, a report on Srimandir\u2019s expenses and income was prepared during a high-level meeting between the Finance Sub-committee, Land Sub-committee, Sevayat Kalyan Sub-committee and Niti Sub-committee.<\/p>\n
Notably, for the 2019-2020 financial year, the temple managing committee had allocated Rs 78 crore for various expenses of the temple and anticipated an annual income of Rs 102 crore.<\/p>\n
The annual remuneration of the Puri King was also increased to Rs 12 lakh annually from Rs 6 lakh in 2019-20 fiscal. Similarly, Rs 6 crore was allocated towards Rath Yatra. Likewise, Rs 32 crore was spent towards payments to servitors and Rs 28 crore to the various staff at the temple.<\/p>\n