Mangalore, September 11: The Kadri temple was granted Rs. 1.2 crore five years ago for a much-needed multi-level vehicle parking, toilet complex, tourist reception centre and recreational facilities, but yet the facilities remain unseen.
The fund was sanctioned by the State government as part of a grand facelift planned for this ancient and renowned temple.
During a meeting held on the temple premises on Wednesday, Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim expressed his umbrage over the money remaining unspent.
Kalbhavi Rajendra Rao, the Director of Dakshina Kannada Nirmiti Kendra, which is executing the project, said so far they had laid foundation stone for the two-storeyed toilet complex. Some members of the temple committee questioned the high estimate of Rs. 30 lakh made for the toilet complex.
Revised plans:
The Deputy Commissioner said that, “Your contractor can do the job. We will make the payments”.He also asked the temple authorities to submit a revised plan by September 20th, for the toilet complex, multilevel car parking and reception complex. “Design it in the way you want as per the government specifications”, he added. The revised plan will be forwarded to the government.
Mr. Ibrahim asked the temple authorities to quicken the work.
Pradeep Kumar Kalkura, a member of the temple committee, said the narrow stretch joining the Kadri New Road should be widened as it would provide an alternate road to the temple. Mr. Ibrahim insisted Executive Officer of the Temple Ningaiah to submit a proposal.
Another member requested Mr. Ibrahim to take steps to clean up the road leading to the temple, complaining that garbage was not collected from the area on a regular basis.
Mr. Ibrahim directed personnel from the Survey Department to start fixing boundary marks for the 30 acres of land of the temple from Saturday. He also asked the Executive Officer to quickly bring out the temple’s brochure, besides quickening installation of fire safety gadgets.
Funds for Kadri Temple facelift are lying idle.
In the meeting, A.B. Shetty, president of the Temple Committee and Deputy Commissioner of Mangalore City Corporation Gokuldas Nayak had participated.
Similar to Kukke Subramanya Temple, the Kadri Manjunatha Temple too will have greater security in place. Both the temples have good income.
Executive Officer of the Temple Ningaiah said that after a security audit, 16 of the 28 close circuit cameras installed inside and outside the temple would be changed as the feed from these cameras were found to be of poor quality. Some burglar alarms have also been replaced.
Mr. Ningaiah revealed that, four security personnel from a private security agency and two from the temple had been posted for a watch. Three of them patrolled in the dawn and three at dusk.
Mr. Ningaiah told media that more security personnel were not required.
