Nagpur: The famous pilgrim centre of Shri
Saibaba temple in Shirdi, one of the richest temples in
Maharashtra, has ornaments and jewellery worth over Rs
32-crore and investments running into Rs 4,27,17,02,929,
according to official documents.
The administration of Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust
(Shirdi), governed by the Managing Committee which was
constituted by the Maharashtra Government way back on August
23, 2004 has Kisan Vikas Patras worth Rs 51,71,00,100
besides Government of India eight-percent Saving Bonds
amounting to Rs 48,15,53,000 and Rs 8-cr in non-reedmable
bonds of Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikaran, and Rs
3,19,30,49,929 in various nationalised banks.
It has Rs 47,82,31,835.64 as Trust Corpus Fund.
The temple trust has ornaments and jewellery including
Gold worth Rs 24,41,10,640, Silver--Rs 3,26,19,152; Silver
coins-- Rs 612,317; Gold Coins--Rs 1,28,89,749 and Gold
pendants worth Rs 1,12,31,903, the Trust Auditor Sharad S
Gaikwad said in its annuul audit for 2009-10 as the annual
report was tabled in the State Legislature during its winter
session in December 2010 here.
The total worth of the ornaments and jewellery stands at
Rs 32,23,59,372.
The temple has earned a surplus income of Rs 94,67,79,142
in year 2009-10 as against Rs 87,22,71,012 in year 2008-09.
The total income during the year 2009-10 was Rs
1,64,88,01,030 by way of rent, interest on savings bank
accounts, investments and donations against Rs 1,51,51,43,503
in the previous year.
The immovable property and buildings are worth Rs
79,28,30,95 including the Statue of Saibaba worth Rs eight
lakhs, the annual report stated.
The Chartered Accountancy firm also suggested the
Managing Committee to dispose off precious stones valued at
Rs 2,00,79,164 by conducting public
auction, at regular intervals to augment its revenue.
During the year 2009-10, Saibaba temple received
donations of 147.10 grams gold valued at Rs 2,44,888 and
silver weighing 4508 grams whose present cost at the end of
fiscal year 2009-10 was Rs 1,02,640, the audit report said.
An interesting point mentioned in the report is that
unlike many civic bodies, the Trust has accepted and
implemented the Sixth Pay Commission Report for its employees.
Also, it says that the temple transactions on a daily
basis closes at 2 pm in the afternoon. Cash received later on
is included in the next day's collection.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, January 04, 2011, 13:44