A survey across Udupi district has found encroachments on about 12 acres of land belonging to 43 temples under the Department of Religious Endowments (Muzrai), while the survey of C-grade temples is yet to begin.
The district has 24 A-grade temples, 19 B-grade temples and 766 C-grade temples. The survey of land belonging to 43 A-grade and B-grade temples has been partially completed. Among A-grade temples, encroachments have been found on 11.58 acres. Among B-grade temples, encroachment has been found on 85.5 cents of land.
Officials said the delay in surveying C-grade temple lands is due to a shortage of survey staff, the inability of many temples to clearly specify the extent of their land holdings, and the fact that land belonging to many temples continues to be recorded as government revenue land.
The district administration has instructed concerned taluk tahsildars to remove encroachments wherever they have been identified after the completion of surveys. Land found to belong to temples will be restored to the respective temples. Even if such land is recorded in the name of the government, it will continue to remain under the control of the temple if it has traditionally been used by the temple. Only private encroachments will be removed.
If the government has used temple land for public purposes such as roads, dams or other infrastructure projects, it will not be treated as an encroachment, an official said.
When temple land is reclaimed, faith regains its foundation.
