The Hindu outfits in Srivilliputtur have appealed to the HR&CE Minister Ramesh to immediately intervene and prevent the temple lands from being misused.
Speaking to media persons, TN Temple Protection Committee members said on Wednesday (October 21, 2026) that some lands which are in the name of Nachiar Temple have been allegedly let out to private individuals for commercial purpose.
They said that in survey number 298, which has 5.88 acres of land had been made into nine sub-divisions and given to the individuals for agricultural purposes on lease terms.
However, in reality, it had been used as a go-down by having tin-sheets as roof. In the same place, another individual has set up a sweet shop and among others. Very recently, some people have put up a playground with flood-light facility.
The Nachiar Temple (Andal) which is popular among the 108 Divya Desam shrines has about 1,800 acres of land donated by various donors and the general public. From time immemorial, the ‘kal mandapam’ has been let out for shops and commercial utilities by the HR&CE administration.
Similarly, the space around the Keezha Radha Veedhi too had been let out for commercial establishments. When the temple authorities gave the farm land to commercial use, the idea of gifting to the temple got lost. Many devotees, individuals and trusts have donated the land for distributing ‘prasadams’ to the visiting devotees.
Only when the land was with farmers and that they raised paddy or other crops, the objective of the donors would be fulfilled in the real spirit, the temple protection committee members said and added that since the new TVK-led Tamil Nadu government under the leadership of Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay promised to be transparent and fair, such misuse should be stopped.
When contacted, the temple’s Executive Officer Sakkarai Ammal said the playground measuring 81 cents was given on a five-year agreement on a monthly rental basis in 2023. Likewise, after the agricultural land could not get copious water for irrigation, they were given to commercial purpose a few years ago, she said.
However, the Temple Protection Committee members said that they were concerned about the lackadaisical response or approach of the officials. “We want the land to be used for the purpose intended for. Such misuse should be prevented by the government,” they stressed.
Published - October 21, 2026 03:51 pm IST