Mangaluru: Two temples in the district that are at least 300 years old will now get an all new look as the Kukke Shree Subrahmanya Temple, the richest temple under the endowment department in the state, has decided to renovate and develop them.

The move comes after the state government, a few months ago, threw open an option to the Grade A temples that they can develop temples under Grade C, or those that generate annual revenue of Rs 2 lakhs or less, by adopting them. This provision was made available under the Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Act, 1997, Section (1).

Under this provision, the Grade A temples can adopt the temples under Grade C for a period of five years and develop them after getting consent from the Dharmik Parishath.

In this context, the Kukke Subrahmanya Temple has adopted Poode Sri Ganapathi Mallikarjuna Temple in Murulya and Sri Narasimha Shastavu Temple in Ubaradka Mittooru. While the temple in Murulya will get a facelift to the tune of Rs 1 crore, the temple in Ubaradka will be developed at a cost of Rs 15 lakhs.
“The two temples are at least 300 years old. They may be much older.

We aren’t sure. However, the reality is that these temples are in bad shape and need attention,” Nityananda Mundkodi, president, management committee of Kukke Subrahmanya Temple told TOI. According to Mundkodi, both the temples have never been renovated. “We will undertake development works in a phased manner,” he added.

Mundkodi said the Kukke Subrahmanya Temple will adopt more temples under Grade C provided such temples seek help.

To realise this, a temple under Grade C needs to be listed by the endowment department and own the land that houses the temple. In addition, the temple needs to furnish a plan estimation of what needs to be developed, through an engineer of the Public Works Department, Mundkodi said.

“Since the work doesn’t exceed Rs 1 crore per temple, we have got the approval from the Sasikanth Senthil S, deputy commissioner, Dakshina Kannada. e-tenders will be called after which works will begin,” Mundkodi said.

The benefactor temple needs permission from the government if the budget exceeds Rs 1 crore.

There are a total of 494 temples in Dakshina Kannada under the endowment department. Of these, only 36 are classified under Grade A while 44 are in Grade B. The remaining 414 temples are in Grade C, according to the data given by the district wing of the endowment department.