Raghunathpur: Coins worth around `5 lakhs, collected from the donation box (hundi) of Gorakhnath peeth at Kerekera here over the last two years, are lying unutilised at the shrine trust board office, it is alleged.
The trust board has failed to count the coins and utilise the amount for the development of the shrine, locals said.
According to sources, the shrine trust board used to open the donation box (hundi) under the guidance of Jagatsinghpur district sub-Collector and other government officials on regular intervals and count the money collected from it.
The trust board usually counts the notes and deposits the amount in the bank account of the shrine but the coins collected from the donation box are stored in sacks at the trust board office.
It is learnt that the trust board has said that there was a shortage of manpower to count the coins.
“Coins to the tune of around `5 lakh have been stored in sacks at the trust board office. The authorities concerned even do not bother to seal the sacks properly. There is no CCTV at the shrine office. Anyone can steal some coins without much hindrance,” said a source familiar with the issue.
When contacted, shrine trust board clerk Saroj Kumar Sahani expressed his inability to comment on the issue. “The higher authorities can do something. I have no authority to do or say anything on the issue,” he said.
Gorakhnath peeth has unused coins worth Rs 5 lakh
