Visakhapatnam: Neither the salt deterioration nor pollution from the Visakhapatnam Port Trust is strong enough to damage the centuries old Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple located on a hillock close to the sea.
The temple on the hillock stands tall with most of the old structures intact, although some new structures have come up on the premises over time, owing to several necessities.
The endowments department says the temple was built in 1792. Despite its historical significance, the apathy of the government has deprived the temple to live up to its glory.
The rush of devotees has declined as people are reluctant to come to the temple area, owing to the pollution caused by VPT. Though the pollution has been mitigated by a slew of measures, the perception of people has not changed.
Moreover, the APSRTC has withdrawn the bus service to the temple.
The endowments department executive officer and in-charge of the temple, B. Prasad, said they had been urging the administration for a bus service for the last four years, but to no avail. Devotees are being forced to walk for about 800 mts to reach the temple as the RTC buses end service at the old post office.
The bus service to the area would not only facilitate the people visit the temple but also the Rose Hill church and dargah, the officer explained. “Many temple trustees wanted to build a big idol of the god but we did not allow it in order to keep the original view of temple intact,” Mr Prasad said.
