Gujarat government has paid nearly Rs 50 lakh to priests at famous Ambaji temple towards their salary and share in the temple's income in the last two years, the Legislative Assembly was told today.
During the Question Hour, Congress MLA from Palanpur, Maheshkumar Patel asked the government whether they are aware that the priests are drawing a huge sum as their salary and share in the income generated by the temple.
Patel also sought details about the income generated by the Ambaji Temple Trust during last two years and the exact amount spent on development-related works by the government.
In his reply, Pilgrimage Development Minister Pradeepsinh Jadeja stated that 'Aarasuri Ambaji Mata Devsthan Trust's audited income for 2012-13 stood at Rs 48.84 crore, out of which Rs 29.65 lakh was paid to priests as emolument while Rs 29.48 crore was spent on development-related works.
The audited income of the temple stood at Rs 44.27 crore in 2013-14, out of which Rs 20.24 lakh was paid to the priests as their salary and share while Rs 23.16 crore was spent on developmental works.
However, the reply did not mention the exact number of priests.
Refuting the allegations of high salary being paid to the priests, Jadeja stated in his reply that only 25 per cent of the net amount, after deducting several overheads from actual income, is paid to the priests which is as per the norms laid down by the departments of Legal and General Administration.
Ambaji temple is situated in Danta taluka of Banaskantha district and managed by the state government.
