Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple faces financial shortfall, struggling to conduct daily poojas; Consumerfed issues warning to pay dues

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Consumerfed has warned that if the dues of Rs 1 crore is not paid immediately, then distribution of pooja items at Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple will be stopped. It raised concerns whether the daily rituals at the temple will be in crisis.

Consumerfed's warning comes after huge dues in the purchase of items for annadhanam and poojas. The store keeper of the temple has written a letter to the governing body asking that many items are not available in the temple store and to intervene in the problem immediately. Rice, condiments and other pooja items are bought from Consumerfed and Marketfed.

As of December, Consumerfed alone has arrears of Rs 73.57 lakh. The dues till May last year were Rs 28.55 lakh. It was demanded to be paid in full but it has not been paid. On December 21, the Regional Manager of Consumerfed wrote to the Executive Officer of Padmanabhaswamy temple, demanding payment of the full amount.

According to the letter given by the store keeper, the Consumerfed officials had called them and asked to clear the dues as soon as possible or the supply would be stopped. The Consumerfed officials informed that if the dues of the last three months are added, then the dues will increase further. At the same time, Madhavan Nair, the government representative in the governing body, said that there is no financial crisis and there was a delay in checking the bills from the store and allotting the money.

Rs 1.25 crore expense

The monthly expenditure of the temple is Rs 1.25 crore including the salary and pension of the employees. The temple has 235 employees including daily wage workers. The former executive officer of the temple approached the government requesting Rs 10 crore for salary and pension, but only Rs 2 crore was sanctioned. It was also proposed to repay within one year. But it is reported that the money has not been paid yet.