Rs 93 lakhs: Presidents expidenture for Shirdi visit

AHMEDABAD: The Trustees of the Shirdi Saibaba Temple have been asked to share the expenses incurred by the state government for undertaking some development works during the recent visit of President Pratibha Patil and her family to the shrine.
  
According to sources in the Shri Saibaba Sansthan, the trust that manages the famed Saibaba temple, the Trustees are expected to meet next week to take a decision on the government's plea.
   
The state government had reportedly incurred an expenditure of about Rs 93 lakh for among other things developing a helipad, repair and rebuilding of roads in and around the temple complex during the VVIP visit on November 27.

The letter asking the temple authorities to foot the bill was sent by the Public Works Department(PWD) to the Sansthan a week after the visit.
   
Ahmednagar District Collector Dr P Anbalgam, who was in-charge of the Presidential visit, said he also received the Department's letter detailing the expenses incurred.
  
According to Sansthan sources, the Trustees are expected to take a decision next week on whether or not to fork out the amount sought by the department.
  
The sources and Anbalgam however said there was no controversy on this issue amid indications that the Sansthan may shell out some amount since some of the development works was done in its private property.