CHENNAI: Former HR and CE Minister P K Sekarbabu on Friday said that during the previous DMK regime, consecration was done for a whopping 4,641 temples. Participating in the discussion on the demands for grants for the department,
Sekarbabu said the TVK government has announced that 3,000 temples would be consecrated during the next five years. He described this as a setback to the consecration works.
Countering, HR&CE Minister S Ramesh said the DMK regime had announced that 2,491 temples would be renovated using general funds and plans were laid. But of the total estimated cost, Rs 392 crore is yet to be paid.
Sekarbabu said that 352 temples had been identified for renovation, with the government allocating Rs 425 crore between 2022-23 and 2025-26 and receiving another Rs 135 crore from donors.
Thus, 352 temples were taken up for renovation at a total cost of Rs 560 crore, and consecration ceremonies had been held in around 90 temples that are more than 1,000 years old.