Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin virtually launched the preliminary work towards the melting of gold ornaments, in temples under the control of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department.
The CM launched the work at the Arulmigu Karumariyamman Temple at Tiruverkadu, Arulmigu Mariamman Temple at Samayapuram and Arulmigu Mariamman Temple at Irukkankudi, Virudu Nagar.
The gold ornaments in these temples will be melted and converted into bars.
The funds raised by depositing the gold bars in nationalised banks would be used for the development of the temples.
The government would melt only those gold ornaments offered by the devotees but lying unutilised for the last ten years.