Puri: The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has paid remuneration and compensation to the tune of Rs 10.65 crore to Palia servitors during the renovation of shrine Jagamohan as the entry ban had incurred losses to them.
However, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the SJTA have spent around Rs 6 crore for the renovation and beautification of Jagamohan, sources said.
It is learnt that the inflated payments to the Palia servitors has put a strain on the temple management finances.
The ASI had started renovating Jagamohan from January 27, 2016 after the detection of several cracks on its beams and pillars. The renovation work was completed recently.
According to sources, the ASI has spent around Rs 5 crore to renovate Jagamohan while the temple administration had allocated Rs 1 crore to beautify the structure.
The SJTA had put restrictions on the entry of devotees to Jagamohan and the sanctum sanctorum (Garvagruha) to facilitate the renovation. It had also decided to provide compensation to Palia servitors in addition to their remuneration to replenish the losses incurred by them, sources said.
Data collected through an RTI query revealed that the SJTA had paid Rs 5.13 crore towards the remuneration and compensation of Palia servitors in the financial year 2016-17. Similarly, it had paid remuneration and compensation to the tune of Rs 5.52 crore to Palia servitors in 2017-18 fiscal.
Sources said the temple administration is still providing compensation to the servitors even though the renovation and beautification works at Jagamohan were completed at least a couple of months ago.
Srimandir sources said the SJTA had decided to stop paying compensation to the servitors and initiate disciplinary action against them if there was any delay in the performance of rituals during Jagamohan renovation.
However, the temple administration did not stop paying compensation to the Palia servitors even though the shrine rituals were delayed on several occasions during Jagamohan repair.
“The SJTA is still providing compensation to Palia servitors. The extra payment has put a burden on the temple exchequer,” said a source familiar with Srimandir.