CAG to audit 18,000 mutts, temples in Odisha

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, May 13:

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), for the first time, has begun to process for audit of about 18000 mutts and temples in Odisha.

The Odisha government has enlisted about 18000 mutts and temples, which, apart from their own sources of income, also get government aid.

These mutts and temples, having properties of over crores, are now mired in gross irregularities. While some persons have encroached the mutt and temple land or sold these away at throwaway price, some have forcibly taken possession of these religious institutions since years.

It is surprising that neither the state government and nor the office of the Endowment Commissioner has any record of properties of these mutts and temples.

Sources said Principal Accountant General Amar Patnaik, in a letter to the chief secretary, has expressed his kenness on audit of these mutts and temples and requested him to appoint the CAG as the auditor.

Meanwhile, the Law department has begun the process for the audit.

A senior official of the Law department said there is a provision for CAG audit of mutts and temples under section (58) (3) of the Odisha Hindu Endowment Act, 1951.

“On the basis of the provision, the Law department will send the file to the office of the chief minister on whose approval the CAG will start the audit”, he added.