JAGATSINGHPUR: Non-Payment of dues by shop-keepers has affected the rituals in Sarala temple in Kanakpur and Gorekhnath Peetha at Chapada in Jagatsinghpur district. Apart from donations, the temples function with the help of funds collected from leasing out of shops selling ‘prasad’ and clay lamps, on the premises. The shops are leased out by Endowment Commissioner who takes care of the temples.
Gorekhnath temple has no property of its own and the funds required for daily rituals and festivals are met from lease amount of four shops located within the premises.
In 2014-2015, a person who enjoys the support of the ruling party leader was granted the lease of the four shops at a cost of `1.20 crore for two years. However, he did not pay the money. Temple sources alleged that apart from not clearing the dues, he has not been allowing anyone else to take the shops on lease despite the Endowment Commissioner releasing auction notices twice. Although the Endowment Commissioner reduced the lease money to `80 lakh this year, no one has come forward to take the shops on lease.
Similar is the case with Sarala temple where some sevayats have taken shops on lease. They have not cleared dues of more than `one crore.
Sub-Collector Narahari Sethy admitted non-payment of dues towards auction of these shops hitting development of Gorekhnath Peetha and Sarala temple.