Chamarajanagar: The famous Male Mahadeshwara temple lost Rs 18 crores of income owing to Covid lockdown of two and half months. The temple was closed on April 22 and opened July 5 for general public. However various sevas have been stopped and devotees could not visit and offer pooja. No food distribution and Prasada is being distributed till now without further orders by the State Government.
“The temple has average revenue of Rs. 7 crores monthly through Hundi, various Sevas and Poojas. But owing to 75 days lockdown temple lost nearly 18 crores of income,” said Jayavibhava Swamy, Male Mahadeshwara Temple Development Authority (MMTDA) Secretary.
The authority spends Rs 2 crores per month on salary for employees and further, has also taken up developmental works which comes to Rs. 3 crores, thus the spending coming up to Rs. 5 crore per month. There are 189 contract workers in temple, and they were paid salaries too till May, he informed.
Swamy added that the contract workers will not be called back for duty as there is no Prasada, and food distribution in temple now.
The temple authority expected a total of Rs. 80 crore income during 2020 – 21, but could collect only up to Rs. 42 crores.
Jayavibhava swamy told that, “The annual car festival of the temple was cancelled owing to lockdown hence this dip in income. Though the temple has now been opened for public, the income will not rise now as temple has suspended special puja and sevas,” he rued.
