THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Devaswom Board Minister Kadakampally Surendran has said reduction in the revenue collected at Sabarimala temple would affect salaries of Board employees.

“Sangh Parivar are making conscious efforts to hamper the income of Sabarimala temple. This will affect the board substantially and it will even affect the disbursement of salaries to board employees,” the minister expressed his concern on Saturday.

Meanwhile, it is said that severe restrictions put in place by Kerala police on account of the Supreme Court order on young women’s entry in Sabarimala affected the free flow of devotees to Sabarimala, resulting in the drastic reduction in the income of the temple.

The accounts of first five days of Mandalam season showed a decrease of Rs 11.71 cr when compared with the last year’s income. Normally, Sabarimala has witnessed 10 per cent increase in its income every year.

In the last year the revenue collected over first five days of the season was Rs 19,09,42,134 and this year it was Rs 7,37,90,222.

All sources of income have been affected and mainly the sale of Aravana and hundi collection have been affected. In the last year, Rs 8.27 cr was generated through Aravana sale and this year the income was just Rs 2.73 cr.

Income of the first days
Appam - Rs 91.99 lakh
Hundi – Rs 2.36 cr
Room rent –Rs 25.21 lakh
Donations – Rs 14.5 lakh
Annadhanam : Rs 2.79 lakh
Malikappuram: Rs 5.41 lakh