Madhya Pradesh Temple Restoration Funding Plummets Amid Fiscal Constraints
The ambitious initiative by the Madhya Pradesh government to safeguard and conserve the state's rich religious and cultural heritage has encountered a severe financial setback. Official data reveals that allocations for the restoration and renovation of temples and other sacred sites have been reduced to merely one-third of their previous levels over the last three fiscal years.
Sharp Decline in Restoration Funding
In a written response presented before the state Assembly, the government acknowledged a dramatic reduction in financial support for the preservation of religious landmarks. According to detailed information provided by the state religious trusts and endowments department, the budgetary allocation for temple renovation stood at Rs 11.99 crore during the 2023-24 fiscal year.
This funding experienced a substantial contraction in subsequent years, with only Rs 8.28 crore sanctioned for 2024-25 and a further reduction to Rs 3.98 crore for the 2025-26 period. This represents a staggering 66% decrease in restoration funding over the three-year timeframe.
Government's Explanation and Temple Management Details
The financial disclosure came in response to queries raised by Congress legislator Bhairon Singh Bapu, who sought information about the number of temples under state management and the corresponding renovation budgets. Religious trusts endowment minister Dharmendra Singh Lodhi provided the detailed written response on February 19.
The government clarified that it oversees the maintenance of 22,098 temples across Madhya Pradesh. Remarkably, more than 10% of these state-maintained shrines—specifically 2,536 temples—are located in Ujjain district, which happens to be the native region of Chief Minister Mohan Yadav.
In terms of urban distribution among Madhya Pradesh's major cities, Ujjain contains the highest number of government-maintained temples, followed by Indore with 1,015 shrines, Gwalior with 865 temples, Bhopal with 29, and Jabalpur with none.
Funding Mechanism and Selection Criteria
The government's response further explained the nuanced approach to temple funding. Financial support for temple rejuvenation and renovation operates on a case-by-case basis, with decisions made according to specific needs and demands rather than following a standardized district allocation system.
Importantly, the government distinguished between regular maintenance funding for selected shrines under state custodianship and the separate renovation budgets. The funds released for restoration projects are not necessarily linked to temples that receive routine government maintenance support.
This funding reduction occurs against the backdrop of Madhya Pradesh's escalating public debt, which appears to be directly impacting the state's capacity to invest in cultural preservation initiatives. The significant contraction in restoration budgets raises concerns about the long-term conservation of the state's religious architectural heritage.
