Kakatpur: Resentment is brewing among the servitors and scores of devotees owing to alleged mismanagement at Maa Mangala temple in Kakatpur of Puri district.
Expressing their displeasure, the temple servitors have alleged that the district administration and the Endowment department, responsible for looking after the administration of temples, have not been performing their duties to ensure smooth management of the 15th century temple.
They said, two donation boxes (hundis) installed in the northern side of the temple Jagamohan have been filled to the brim, but the temple authorities are yet to open them.
“Hundreds of devotees, who come to offer prayer to the presiding deity, fail to drop donations in the hundis,” said a temple servitor. He said the coins and cash inside the hundis are getting damaged, but the temple authorities hardly care about opening it.
Executive officer of the temple Sumanta Mohanty said, “The two donation boxes were last opened in December 2017. We have sought permission from the Endowment Commission to open the boxes, but the directions are awaited.”
The servitors have brought allegations that the prasad shop in the temple premises has not been auctioned. Sources said the temple authorities are now running the shop on their own, which hints towards fund mismanagement.
This apart, the servitors have alleged that even though the term of the temple trust board has expired, the authorities concerned are yet to form a new panel to look after proper functioning of the temple.
“Despite apprising the standing committee of the Odisha Assembly, which visited the temple May 20 regarding the anomalies in management of the Mangala temple, no steps were taken,” said a servitor.
