A reply to an RTI query given by the GPYVB officials reveals that the board spent more than Rs 38 crore for development and for organizing fairs at the Hindu temples. The only exception to this is the Palitana temples which belong to Jains.
The Board was set up in 1995 after the BJP government came to power in Gujarat. The reply given by the Board consists of data from 2003. It reveals that the Dakor temple received the largest share of funds allocated till date. Kheda district, which has now split into Kheda and Anand, was given Rs 13.45 crore for the purpose of development of the Krishna temple, infrastructure and for organizing fairs.
Another district that has received the maximum grants after Kheda is Dangs. The Board gave Rs 7 crore to the Dangs collector for the Rama Trail Project during 2010-11. Junagadh is the third largest beneficiary so far as development of pilgrimage sites is concerned. Girnar and Somanath received Rs 4.25 crore. The Dwarkadhish temple in Jamnagar had received Rs 2.61 crore by 2011. Patan, where Sidhpur is located, was given Rs 2.2 crore by the Board.