Bangalore: The state government, in a last ditch effort to appease Rain God, in view of scanty rainfall this season, has directed all the 34000 temples belonging to the Mujrai  department  to offer special poojas at  a cost of Rs 5000 each.

Informing this, Mujrai minister Kota Srinivas Poojari has made it clear that public funds would not be utilized for the purpose. The pooja would be offered utiliseing the donation funds from the temple trust. Even mosques and churches have been requested to join hands in these prayers.

Accordingly, the special prayers would be held simultaneously all over the state from July 27 to August  2. The government believes that this Rs 17 cr project will be a success.

It may be recalled here that Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar had recently met PM Manmohan Singh and had placed forth a demand for Rs 2000 crore for drought relief while the Centre has promised Rs 80 crores to Rs 100 crores.