Chennai, Feb 28( BPNS)
at Hill shrine
The Hindu Munnani of Tamil Nadu has come out strongly against the state forest department collecting an entry fee of Rs 100 from the devotees who visit the Velliangiri Andavar temple in Velliangiri Mountains near Coimbatore. The hill shrine which has a trek of 5 km from the base to the top of the shrine is thrown open to the devotees from March to May.
With the temple opening on March 1st, the Hindu Munnani has staged protests and came out against the decision of the state forest department to collect an entry fee of Rs 100 from devotees.
M.R. Mayilvahanan, a devotee from Coimbatore and a district level functionary of Hindu Munnani said, “ The collection of Rs 100 as entry fee at the Velliangiri Andavar temple is not a correct practice. The forest department in connivance with the state government authorities are trying to milk the Hindu community and we will not allow this.”
The Tamil Nadu forest department, however, denied the charges that they were forcing the devotees to pay entry fees and instead clarified that the entry fee was not compulsory and money will be collected only from those who are willing to pay.
Sivaraman, a forest range officer of Boluvampatti forest range under whose jurisdiction the Velliangiri Andavar temple is while speaking to BPNS said,” The forest department forcing people to pay money is a lie. We have not yet forced anyone to pay money. The devotees pay voluntarily.”
He also said that the amount collected from the devotees is deposited in the forest department agency account and the money accumulated is used to pay the salary of eco –watchers appointed to prevent devotees from littering and prevent them from taking plastic bottles and other things during the night.”
The Hindu Makkal Katchi, an organization working among the Hindu tribals opposed the posting of private agencies to clean the path to reach the Velliangiri temple situated on top of the hill.
The organization also said that instead of allowing private players, it should be given to the tribal people in the locality which will help them gain some money.
