Tripura: Temple asset evaluation begins in state
AGARTALA, July 4, 2018: On Tuesday, the newly formed Shree Shree Mata Tripura Sundari Temple Trust initiated evaluating process of assets and properties of the holy shrine said Gomati district magistrate Tarun Kanti Debnath.
The trust was formed by chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb on May 22 this year to manage the activities and the movable and immovable assets of Mata Tripurasundari temple in Gomati district.
The district magistrate told reporters that the temple management trust has formed a committee for testing, valuation and weighing assets and properties of the temple.
According to the latest reports, the assessment drive, which began on Monday and will continue on Wednesday, has found 7.940kg gold, 41.616kg silver and other valuable items.
"We have identified seven trunks filled with jewelleries and other valuables so far. We have opened four trunks so far and assessed their contents throughout the day. The other three will be opened and their contents assessed on Wednesday," Debnath said.
On the security of the evaluation process, Debnath said the entire exercise was being conducted under tight security and video surveillance.
"The trust was formed to take over all assets and properties of the holy shrine and manage its activities. The evaluation process was started as preparation for the transition," Debnath said.
He said all the valuables found during the assessment drive would undergo a full-fledged audit.
Land under the possession of Tripurasundari temple and other immovable assets on the complex have already been transferred to the trust authorities.
"The temple authorities conduct valuation of donations collected on a daily basis and on special occasions like Diwali and Maha Ashtami Puja. However, we did not have any full scale audit till date in the temple," Debnath, who is also a member of the temple management trust, said.
Tripurasundari is one of the 51 Hindu shaktipeeths and is considered one of the holiest Hindu shrines.
Maharaja Dhanya Manikya had installed the idol of Tripurasundari in 1501 AD on a hillock, 55km from here.
It is close to Udaipur, which was then called Rangamati and was the erstwhile capital of the princely state.
Source: The Telegraph
Featured image: TripAdvisor
