236 temple properties encroached in Karnataka, Muzrai department monitoring through Integrated Temple Management System

Hassan district has reported the highest number of encroachments in Karnataka, with 75 temple properties affected, followed by Bengaluru corporation limits, Ramanagara, Chikkamagaluru and Bengaluru Urban.
| Photo Credit: The Hindu

Around 236 Muzrai Department-owned temple properties have been encroached upon in Karnataka, according to the Endowment Department.

The department has identified the encroachments and is addressing them using the Integrated Temple Management System, which tracks various details, including the movable and immovable properties of temples, according to officials.

Hassan district has reported the highest number of encroachments in the State, with 75 temple properties affected, as per data from the Muzrai department. This is followed by Bengaluru corporation limits with 35 encroachments, Ramanagara with 26, Chikkamagaluru with 18 temple properties encroached upon and Bengaluru Urban with 17.

Source: Karnataka Endowment Department

“From implementing Integrated Temple Management Systems to introducing e-hundis, mandating audits for high-revenue temples, and closely monitoring encroachments, there is a deliberate and focused effort to drive reforms,” said officials.

Among the 34,564 temples under the Endowment Department, 205 fall under Class A, with an annual revenue exceeding ₹25 lakh. Another 193 are classified as Class B, earning between ₹5 lakh and ₹25 lakh annually, while the remaining are categorised as Class C temples, with an annual income of less than ₹5 lakh.

Karnataka’s Transport and Muzrai Minister Ramalinga Reddy said that he has instructed district Deputy Commissioners across the State to oversee and protect temple properties by conducting surveys and initiating encroachment clearance drives. Committees have been established at both the state and district levels to support this effort.