Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments P. K. Sekarbabu on Wednesday said that a total of 7,560 acres of land belonging to temples worth ₹7,871.23 crore had been retrieved in the last four years.
Speaking after releasing a book with details of the lands, he said that Chief Minister M. K. Stalin had drawn up a special programme as soon as he took over. The department got 38 tahsildars on deputation and encroachments were removed. Action has been taken on encroachers. Earlier, only the commissioner could initiate action and that has been changed now, he said.
Steps have been taken to change the names on pattas of 648 temples corresponding to a total of 5,400 acres of land. The pattas are in the names of the respective deities. The e-chitta has been corrected for 4,491.47 acres and a rent of ₹1,046.31 crore has been collected. The department will complete measuring and marking two lakh acres of lands and planting stones in Mevalurkuppam in Kancheepuram district.
Mr. Sekarbabu welcomed the order of the Supreme Court on archakar appointments and said that identification of Agamic and non-Agamic temples would be taken up soon and posts of archakars would be filled in non-Agamic temples.
Published – May 14, 2025 11:38 pm IST