The Jagannath Temple management committee on Tuesday approved an annual budget of Rs 154 crore for the 2020-21 financial year, informed Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Chief Administrator Krishan Kumar.
After a high-level meeting held here under the chairmanship of Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb, the Chief Administrator said that the temple’s income has plunged this year due to the restrictions on entry of devotees into the shrine following the Covid-19 outbreak. On the other hand, the temple’s expenditure has increased this year due to the pandemic.
“Apart from the expenditure for daily rituals at the temple, additional funding was made for setting up of Covid Care Homes for servitors and other related activities. To meet the gap, the temple administration has decided to launch online donations,” said Krishan Kumar and urged devotees to contribute to the temple fund.
The meeting stressed on various issues, including the upcoming Nagarjuna Besha of the deities, Kartika rituals and welfare programmes for the temple servitors. Regarding reopening of the temple for devotees, Krishan Kumar said, “Discussions will be held with the Chhatisa Nijog again and it will take about four more weeks to be prepared for the reopening. After that, if the State Government gives green signal, we will reopen the temple for devotees.”
Among others, Puri Collector Balwant Singh and SP Akhilesh Singh were present in the meeting.