Puri Srimandir's budget for 2019-20 financial year approved: SJTA

Puri: Anticipating an annual income of Rs 102 crore, the Managing Committee of Puri Srimandir today approved the temple budget for the financial year 2019-20 after a high-level meeting chaired by Gajapati Maharaj Dibyasingha Deb. Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Chief Administrator, Pradipta Mohapatra informed that Rs 78 crore has been allocated for various expenses of the temple.

“For the first time, we are projecting an income of more than Rs 100 crore in the budget. It would be a surplus budget as the total expenditure is estimated to be around Rs 78 crore. Moreover, Rs 6 crore has been allocated for the Rath Yatra this year,” said Mohapatra.

Mohapatra informed efforts are also on to enhance the corpus fund of the temple to Rs 700 crore from existing Rs 650 crore. The annual remuneration of the Puri King has been increased to Rs 12 lakh annually from Rs 6 lakh in this year's budget.

The SJTA chief administrator said as the Model Code of Conduct for the upcoming 2019 elections is in force, he could not provide further details on the budget of Puri Srimandir. Moreover, the Puri Srimandir's annual budget also aims to accrue revenue of Rs 15 crore from the sale of land and increase in donations, said Mohapatra adding that at present the temple is getting Rs 4 crore from donations by devotees annually.

“Apart from this, a provision of Rs 5 crore has been made for welfare of sevaks in the budget. Money has been allocated mainly for payment to sevaks and staff and to carry out other developmental work,” Mohapatra added.

At present Rs 32 crore is being spent towards payments to sevaks and Rs 28 crore to the various staff at the temple. The meeting also approved the Uniform Policy which will be sent to the State government for approval.