Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Feb 28: State muzrai minister, Kota Srinivas Poojary, said that a decision to open huge cow shelters under 25 leading temples in the state falling under the muzrai department has been taken. He was addressing a press conference held here on Thursday, February 27.

"We have instructed the deputy commissioners of districts to identify ten to 15 acres of government land located near A category temples to facilitate construction of cowsheds. Arrangements will be made to care for a maximum of 200 cows in each of these shelters. Guidance of Sri Raghaveshwara Swamiji of Ramachandrapur Math will be obtained towards the construction of these shelters," he explained.

"The government has decided to conserve the property of all the temples in the state and to plug leakage of income. Senior IAS officer, Rohini Sindhuri, has been asked to conduct a detailed inspection on the issue and to submit a report within three months. We also have sought a report on the quantum of total assets owned by muzrai temples," he narrated.

Poojary said that there is a need to protect the properties falling under the temples. Noting that there are over 33,000 muzrai temples in the state, he said that clear picture about the properties owned by muzrai temples will be gathered shortly.

"Saptapadi, a mass marriage programme initiated by the government, is planned in 100 leading temples in the state in two phases. In the first phase, the mass marriage programme will be held on April 26, for which March 27 is the last date for filing of applications by those desirous of getting married. So far, 1,218 people have collected application forms, and 200 among them have submitted applications along with documents," he stated.

In the second phase of mass marriage programme, marriages will be conducted on May 24, he said. He also added that the government will spend Rs 55,000 on each of the couples getting married at the programme in the form of expenses and gifts.