Deposit Of Jagannath Temple Corpus Fund: SJTA Invites Tender From 10 Nationalised Banks

Puri: The Sri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has begun the process for the deposit of the corpus fund of the temple to the tune of Rs 11 crore.

Talking to mediapersons on Tuesday, temple administrator (Development) Ajay Jena said the tender is being invited from 10 nationalised banks to keep the temple corpus fund as a fixed deposit. The bidding is scheduled for January 21.

“As decided, no private bank has been invited for tender. The nationalised bank willing to give the highest rate of interest will be declared as the top bidder and the funds will be kept in that bank only with the approval of sub-committee (finance),” Jena said.

The temple corpus fund includes Rs 2 crore as part of compensation given by the Health and Family Welfare Department towards the acquisition of the temple land for the Sri Jagannath Medical College and Hospital.

Notably, the SJTA had deposited Rs 592 crore temple fund in Yes Bank of which Rs 389 crore was kept in fixed deposit, while Rs 156 crore was kept in two fixed deposits. The remaining Rs 47 crore was kept in the Flexi account which was withdrawn by the SJTA later.

The total temple corpus fund amount of Rs 397,23,27,636 deposited in the SBI account on March 19 last year included the principal amount of Rs 389 crore and the interest amount of Rs 8,23,27,636.

Of the total temple fund of Rs 389 crore, Rs 102 crore of the Foundation fund has been kept in the SBI account of the temple while of the remaining Rs 287 crore corpus and temple funds, 50 per cent each has been kept in the United Bank of India (UBI) and Bank of Baroda (BoB) as fixed deposit for one year.

The total interest amount against the fixed deposit of Rs 545 crore is Rs 12,23,27,636.