THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Reports say there are serious financial crisis in the Travancore Devaswom Board. The board had to take the money which had been deposited in the bank for emergency purposes only. They had to take the cash to pay off the debts of the construction work done. The board took an amount of Rs 35 crore from the bank deposit for interest. With this, the board will also lose interest on this fixed deposit.

The board deposits every year to the account of surplus fund or sinking fund. This was mainly depended on the income of Sabarimala. However, Sabarimala's revenues fell sharply last year amid controversy over women entry and this changed things. Apart from Sabarimala, there was a decline in revenue of other major temples also. Though the chief minister had promised to help the board by giving Rs 100 crore, the board did not get the amount of Rs 30 crore permitted. They had to withdraw the deposits as there was no other alternative.

The surplus fund has to be used only for the expenses of poojas and emergency purposes of the temple. There is also a strict directive of the court that this provision be complied with. The current action of the board is in violation of all these.