No irregularities in Dasara spending, says Kanaka Durga Temple Executive Officer V Koteswaramma

The temple authorities did not consult the trust board members before taking crucial decisions regarding the organisation of Dasara festival last year.
Kanaka Durga Temple in Vijaywada (File | EPS)
Kanaka Durga Temple in Vijaywada (File | EPS)

VIJAYAWADA: After reports of irregularities in the utilisation of funds for Dasara festival came to light, Kanaka Durga Temple Executive Officer V Koteswaramma said the devasthanam had spent just Rs 8.39 crore for conducting the nine-day festivities this year, while Rs 13.62 crore was spent in 2017.

Addressing a press conference at the hill shrine on Sunday, Koteswaramma said that the devasthanam conducted an audit of the amount spent on celebrating the festival in 2017 and with effective cost cutting, the expenses were brought down by Rs 5 crore this year. The devasthanam spent only around Rs 5 lakh this year on conducting cultural programmes as against the Rs 45 lakh spent in 2017, she said, adding that the funds were raised through contributions made by voluntary organisations and philanthropists.

Commenting on the reports of irregularities published in vernacular media, temple trust board chairperson Y Gouranga Babu appealed to the temple authorities to conduct an ACB enquiry and reveal the facts to the devotees.

“The temple authorities did not consult the trust board members before taking crucial decisions regarding the organisation of Dasara festival last year. How can the staff show a difference of around Rs 7 crore in the expenses incurred for Dasara festival in 2017 and 2018?” he questioned.

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