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Baripada: The Jagannath temple of Baripada in Mayurbhanj district, which is known as the second 'Srikhetra' of Odisha, is currently reeling under fund shortage. The situation here has become so bad that more than half of the servitors have already left the temple.
Locals even alleged that not even one-third of the rituals that used to be performed here are being presently carried out in the temple.
After Independence, on October 17, 1948, the Mayurbhanj Maharaj Pratap Chandra Bhanjadeo signed an agreement with the then Odisha government and handed over the temple's management. The government had then assured to bear all the expenses of the temple's rituals and management.
However, the condition of the temple is presently disappointing and the State government has neglected the issue. In the last nine years, the debt burden of the temple has gone up to Rs 64,76,400, said sources.
Adding insult to injury, the temple administration has now ordered the servitors to cut the expenses of the temple rituals. It has not only upset the servitors but also hurt the devotees of Lord Jagannath.
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"It's getting impossible to carry out the daily rituals here. Resentment is brewing among the servitors as the management is neglecting the issues related to the temple. Out of disappointment, servitors are leaving the temple," said a servitor Kamleshwar Tripathy.
The government must carve out ways and alternative means of revenue generation for the temple. It cannot wash off its hands, said a local, Padmanava Sahu.
Meanwhile, the Assistant District Collector Gangadhan Nayak admitted that the temple is debt ridden and debt is increasing with each day.
"Several cases are pending with the Orissa High Court and the RDC. Once hearing is done on the cases, the temple will no longer face any fund issue," said Nayak.
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