Udupi : A master plan will be prepared for the development of Sri Mookambika Temple in Kollur to make it one of the best spiritual destinations in southern India, said Muzrai and Textile Minister Rudrappa Manappa Lamani.

He said that suggestions from the local legislators, the administrative board of the temple and the devotees of the temple will be gathered in this regard.

He was speaking after taking part in a ‘Chandika Homa’ at the Sri Mookambika Temple in Kollur on Wednesday.A master plan has already been prepared for the development of Kukke Subrahmanya Temple at an estimate of Rs 26 crore. Works have been initiated at the Chamundi Kshetra in Mysuru and at Savadatti at a cost of Rs 76 crore.

A revenue of approximately Rs 400 crore generated from A and B grade temples in the state will be utilised for various works.

The minister further said that measures will be taken to regularise the services of 74 employees in the Kollur temple. Legal advice will be obtained towards regularising the services of temporary employees in the rest of the temples coming under the Muzrai Department. The vacant posts in the Department will also be filled in a due course of time.

There are plans to start a separate engineering section for the Department, to look after the development works carried out by the Department, he added.

The process of adoption of small temples in villages will be simplified. Directions will be given to clear the proposals from the temples within seven days. If needed, amendments will be made to the law to give more power to the temple management committee.

Documentation of traditional rituals in Muzrai Department temples will be made in a due course. A meeting of senior scholars will be held in this regard, Lamani explained.

Responding to a query, the Muzrai minister said that directions will be issued to the concerned officials to complete the UGD work in Kollur at the earliest.

Temple management committee chairman Harish Kumar Shetty, members H Jayaram Shetty Vandaballi, Ramesh Ganiga, executive officer Janardan, priest Narsi Narasimha Adiga and Sridhara Adiga were present on the occasion