In a move that has already provoked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) into protest mode; the territorial administration has earmarked temple land for running toddy and arrack shops in different parts of Puducherry and Karaikal.

Identifying the land to be used for setting up of toddy and arrack shops for a year beginning from July 1, a notification was issued in the official extraordinary gazette of Puducherry government on June 3.

The auction will be through internet and will take place for three days from June 19 in Puducherry and Karaikal regions, the notification further stated.

A look at the notification revealed that land belonging to ten temples has been identified for running toddy and arrack shops.

It has also come out with the extent of land to be used for the shops, license number, survey number of lands, conditions for setting up shops and others.

The land belong to temples such as Subramania Swamy temple at Mannadipet; Thirumeni Alagar temple in Thiruvettakudi of Kottucherry Commune Panchayat; Sri Marakaleeshwarar temple at Madukarai in Nettapakkam Commune Panchayat; Kuruvinatham temple, Sengeniamman temple at Sanjeevirayanpet in Oulgaret municipality; Sri Throwpathiamman temple in Lawspet and Subramaniaswamy temple in Saram. Land of these temples and four others had been specified in the gazette notification.

However, Excise Department officials sought to play down the issue by stating that the government’s intention was to renew the licenses for the toddy and arrack shops functioning for the past several years.

“Out of the 100 toddy and arrack shops to be auctioned through internet, about 15 shops will be run in land belonging to 10 temples. But, the locations of the shops were far away from the worshiping places. It will no way affect the sentiments of people,” as told by a senior official of the Excise department.

Moreover, the sites were selected by a high level committee consisting of revenue, police and other officials.

They followed all parameters for identifying sites of toddy shops. The places were selected with the consent of respective temple managements. They would be paid rent for using the vacant land of temples, he said.

Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) cadre staged a demonstration in front of the Excise department here on Friday demanding that there should not be any toddy shops on temple land.

Temples should not be used for generating revenue to the government by selling arrack and toddy, BJP leaders charged.