Pashupatinagar, Jan. 30: CCTV cameras have been installed at the Sano Pathibhara temple in Kutidanda of Rong Rural Municipality, Ilam.
In the past a controversy that the money offered to the temple was embezzled had surfaced, prompting the local administration to form a committee to study the case. Now in a bid to strengthen security and maintain transparency,18 CCTV cameras have been installed in and around the temple.
Of the cameras, one has been installed just at the entrance gate of the temple to count the devotees visiting the temple and the remaining 17 cameras have been installed at various parts of the temple premises.
Egha Aryal, Secretary of Pathibhara Conservation and Management Committee, said that the conservation committee of Rong Rural Municipality installed the cameras in the temple.
Secretary Aryal said that the CCTVs have been installed for financial transparency and to ensure security for the devotees and religious tourists visiting the temple.
After bringing the temple under its ownership, the Rural Municipality has been earning Rs. 1.2 million to Rs. 2 million a month, Aryal said.
Rural Municipality chairman Mani Kumar Syangbo said that work was underway to further manage and organise the temple.
Before this, construction of a separate structure for selling flowers, garlands and other materials has been completed at a cost of Rs. 6.6 million, which was provided by the Koshi Province Government, the Rural Municipality Office and the public.
