HYDERABAD: Popular temples in Telangana got a big boost in 2018-19 budget that was presented in Assembly and Council on Thursday. A huge Rs 550 crore has been allocated for development and giving makeover to five noted temples. Yadagirigutta Temple Development Authority (YTDA) got a major chunk of Rs 250 crore funds. In the previous budgets, YTDA was given Rs 100 crore each year, but this time the quantum was increased.
G. Kishan Rao, YTDA vice-chairman and chief executive officer, thanked the government for increasing budget allocation. He said that they requested government to hike the amount and it was duly taken care of. It may be mentioned here that Chief Minister K.Chandrashekar Rao is personally taking interest in makeover of Yadadri temple, which he wishes to transform along lines of Lord Balaji temple in Tirumala. In the rest of the allocations, Vemulawada Temple Development Authority was given Rs 100 crore, Bhadrachalam Temple Development Authority got Rs 100 crore while Basar Temple Development Authority and Dharmapuri Temple Development Authority Rs 50 crore each.
During his visit to Adilabad district few weeks ago, K.Chandrashekar Rao pledged Rs 50 crore fund in budget to Basar Temple. The objective is to give a big fillip to popular piligrimage centre that is flocked by devotees from states like Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra etc. for performing prayers to Godess Saraswati. C.S.Rangarajan, heriditary priest in the famous Chilkur Balaji temple appreciated KCR for giving top priority for development of temples in Telangana.
