Govt. fails to release Dasara funds for Kanaka Durga temple despite State-festival status
The Kanaka Durga temple in Vijayawada is struggling with rising operational costs for the annual Dasara festival. Despite the government declaring it a State festival, temple authorities are forced to cover expenses for various government departments that fail to release promised funds.
Why it matters
This highlights a breakdown in administrative coordination and financial accountability between religious institutions and state government departments.
The Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam spent more than ₹10 crore on services and arrangements provided by various government departments for the annual Dasara festival last year, even though the State government had declared the festival a State festival.
The State government had issued a GO 3032 in 2015 declaring the Dasara festivities as a State festival. The order envisions that the concerned departments earmark funds for the conduct of State festivals. However, the temple authorities have been meeting the expenditure incurred by departments such as the police, Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC), Roads and Buildings, Irrigation and Fisheries, among others, whenever they cite shortage of funds.
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