MRF IMPLEMENTATION FROM MONDAY Kathmandu, 16 Sept.: Minimum retail price (MRP) of 15 items fixed by government for the first time Thursday will be enforced from Monday after notification in the government gazette. The publication of the price list will empower government to enforce Thursday’s decision. nnnn PADT EARNS RS 50 MILLION IN FIVE MONTHS Kathmandu, 16 Sept.: The Pashupatinath Temple has earned some Rs 50 million in the last five months, Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) said today [Saturday], The Himalayan Times reports. The trust has been maintaining the records of the temple’s income and offerings since April 8 after the implementation of a regulation meant to make the shrine’s earnings transparent. Earlier, the priests and caretakers of the temple were alleged of gobbling up the offerings from the devotees. The annual income used to be about Rs 2-4 million. “We have collected a total of Rs 47.12 million through offerings made since April,” said Vaidya. “Of this, Rs 27.93 million was earned through regular offerings, while Rs 19.19 million came through special pujas,” he said. The funds collected from the offerings are deposited at the PADT bank account everyday. According to the PADT, of the total earnings, they have saved Rs 25 million, while Rs 22 million was spent on paying staffers, regular worshiping, transportation, food for security staffers, special pujas and donation. People are not charged for worshiping at the temple, however, they have to pay a certain amount for special pujas. According to Vaidya, the devotees have offered from Rs 1,100 to Rs 151,000 for special puja since April 8. “Five Indian devotees offered the highest amount of Rs 151,000 for special puja till August 16,” he said. During the last five months, the PADT received offerings of 50.06 gm gold, 11.8 kg silver, 33.2 kg copper, 600 gm bronze, 3.9 kg pittal, 65.2 kg dhalot, and 20 kg of steel and other pots, according to PADT. About 900,000 pieces of clothes including sarees, dhotis, pants, blouses, vests, shawls, shirts, caps, and kerchiefs were also received, Vaidya said adding that they will be sold to interested devotees as tokens of Pashupatinath temple at the minimum price like in Indian temples. The PADT plan to revamp the temple that was last renovated some 200 years ago is yet to be translated into action. Meanwhile, Sushil Nahata, member-secretary of the PADT, said they were working on the construction of 100,000-room shelter home, electric crematorium, information centre for tourists, development of deer park and renovation of dilapidated sections of various temples. nnnn "