Vijayawada: The Sree Durga Malleswara Swamy Devasthanam (SDMSD) has urged the state government to allot Durga ghat to the Devasthanam. The temple EO A. Suryakumari made the request as the Pavitra Sangamam ghat was already given to the tourism department for maintenance and revenue generating purpose. The SDMSD also has plans to develop the ghat in two phases.
As allocation of the ghat involves the irrigation department too, Ms Suryakumari was advised to forward proposals for the same. If Durga ghat comes under the purview of the SDMSD, then the Devasthanam authorities can take up the works related to providing amenities to the devotees and simultaneously, find ways to begin activities that can generate revenue.
Similarly, the EOs of Sri Kalahasthi and Srisailam placed a few proposals before the government for the development of the respective shrines. They were advised to take up social forestry and cow dung processing units as both the Devasthanams would get MGNREGA funding, which facilitates employment generation.
In fact, Chief Secretary Dinesh Kumar has been supporting various government departments to utilise the NREGA funds in a proper way so that development as well as revenue generation activities can be expedited. The panchayat raj and rural development departments have been implanting several schemes with the help of NREGA funds and similarly, the remaining government departments have also been advised to take up schemes to accommodate more unemployed youth, to provide livelihood to them.
Principal secretaries and HoDs of various government departments have been advised to scout for various plans that suit MGNREGA funding and ambit.
