Facelift for 1,006 temples this year: Minister

CHENNAI: HR and CE Minister MSM Anandan on Wednesday announced that 1,006 temples would be renovated and consecrated during the current fiscal. Replying to the discussion on the demands for grants for his department in the Assembly, he said after the AIADMK government assumed office in May 2011, 1,006 temples were consecrated.   During the current financial year also, 1,006 temples would consecrated.Stating that during the past 10 months alone, 364 temple tanks had been desilted and the RWH Scheme implemented, the Minister said 493 temples would be brought under the One Time Pooja Scheme.The Minister said new Annadanam halls would be built in 21 temples  at Srirangam, Rameswaram, (Sri Sankararameswarar temple) Tuticorin, (Sri Chakrapaniswamy temple) Kumbakonam, Tiruvannamalai, (Sri Suyambu Saneeswarar temple) Kuchchanur, (Sri Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy temple) Sholingur and (Balasubramaniya swamy temple) Siruvapuri.  The halls would be built at a cost of `4.50 crore.Anandan said 43 ancient temples would be renovated at a cost `22.50 crore.  The temples chosen are:  Sri Ranganathaswamy temple, Srirangam, Sri Devarajaswamy temple, Kancheepuram, Sri Ekambareswarar temple, Kancheepuram, Sri Bhoovaragaswamy temple, Sri Mushnam, Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple, Madurai, Sri Adi Jagannathaperumal temple, Thirupullani, and Sri Sarangapani temple, Kumbakonam.To encourage donations to Annadanam Scheme, he announced that Diamond Cards would be provided to those who donate at least `7 lakh.  Similarly, Platinum Cards would be given to those who donate `1 crore and above. These donors along with their family can have darshan on priority basis in all temples in the State except during the festival seasons.  In the first phase, this scheme would be implemented in 15 temples  including those at Srirangam, Tiruchendur, Palani and Tiruttani.