Karnataka to conduct survey on temples

Bangalore, July 16: Karnataka Muzrai Minister Krishnaiah Chetty today said his department would take up a fresh survey of all temples in the state with a plan to develop them in the next five years.

Talking to newspersons here, Mr Chetty said the survey would collect all the details connected to the temples, including their origin and religious importance.

He said many Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) of Karnataka origin have come forward to help the development of the temples in the state and the department would utilise their service.

The minister said the government had also taken up a project to build a 1,000 room cottage complex near the Venkateswara temple at Tirumala in Andhra Pradesh for the devotees from the state.

He said the department was also planning to introduce electronic hundis in the temples to curb theft of the collected money.

Mr Chetty, who is also holding the housing portfolio, said the department had planned to build a 100 acre layout at all the taluk hedquarters in the state for both lower and middle income groups.

UNI