Chennai: In order to generate revenue for the temples, the gold Jewelries donated by the devotees were being converted into gold bars by melting them in Tamil Nadu.

The Tamil Nadu government has extended the gold melting process of to convert them into gold bars in three more temples of the state.

The gold ornaments of the temples namely Goddess Karumariamman temple in Tiruverkadu, Irukaknkudi Mariamaan temple and Samayapuram Goddess Mariamman temple will also be melted under the monitoring by a panel led a retired judge of the Supreme Court and two retired High Court judges constituted for the purpose.

Earlier the state government had recently informed the Madras High Court about melting of 500 kg of gold into bars so far which were deposited in banks.

A press release issued by the government quoting rules said that the gold donated by
devotees to temples have been converted into 24 carat gold bars since 1979.

The gold jewelleries of nine temples have been melted, informed the release.

The bars deposited in banks would generate revenue for the temples through
interest earnings and it could used for the maintenance of temples.