CHENNAI, INDIA, May 31, 2016 (The Hindu Business Line): (HPI Note: This project is not without its critics who claim it is an illegal usurpation of temple lands.) Uncultivated and unutilized temple lands in Tamil Nadu will soon generate income for the temples with the State government allocating the land to Tamil Nadu Newsprint and Papers to raise tree plantations for pulpwood.
The Government has allocated about 3,600 acres of temple lands across the State belonging to over 15 temples to TNPL, a public sector, listed company, to raise pulpwood plantations. According to a government order, TNPL has a 15-year agreement, providing for a 30 per cent gross revenue share to the temple, to enable it to raise pulpwood tree plantations such as eucalyptus and casuarina. TNPL will handle the entire cost of land development, planting and maintenance.
As of now these lands are either unutilized or have been encroached. The State government Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department that oversees the temples hopes to bring these lands into productive use and enable the temples to earn revenue through this arrangement.