AP Plans Venkateswara Temples in All 175 Constituencies
5 crore to 10 crore to be allocated for each temple; target to build 5,000 temples by 2028
Nellore: The Andhra Pradesh government plans to construct Sri Venkateswara Swamy temples in all 175 Assembly constituencies where such temples are not available, with an allocation of 5 crore to 10 crore for each temple, depending on land availability and local requirements, endowments minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy said on Monday.
The government has set a target of constructing 5,000 new temples across the state by 2028, in line with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s vision, he said.
The minister made the announcement after laying the foundation stone for a Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple at Mahammadapuram village in Podalakur mandal. The temple is being constructed with a contribution of around 2 crore from donor Poondla Venkata Reddy. Sarvepalli MLA Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy and local representatives attended the ceremony.
Ramanarayana Reddy said the government was according priority to temple development and improved facilities for devotees. At Somireddy’s request, the Endowments Department had sanctioned around 14.50 crore for temple development in Sarvepalli constituency. Financial assistance was being extended through the Common Good Fund, the Dhoopa Deepa Naivedyam scheme and the Srivani Trust.
He said plans were being prepared in coordination with the Archaeological Survey of India to reconstruct two ancient temples in the Krishnapatnam Port area of Muthukur mandal.
Anna Prasadam was being served at 151 temples across the state, including daily distribution at 51 temples, the minister said. Around three crore devotees had received free meals at temples over the past 18 months.
The government was also supporting Vedic scholars by providing a monthly honorarium of 3,000 for three years to certified Vedic education graduates until they secured employment. Around 600 people were benefiting from the scheme, he added.
Chandramohan Reddy welcomed the temple construction initiative and said the minister had agreed to consider an allocation of Rs 50 lakh from the Common Good Fund for another building on the Mahammadapuram temple premises. He added that Rs 50 lakh in corporate social responsibility funds had been mobilised for the development of the village high school.
Proposals seeking another 4 crore to 5 crore for temple development in Sarvepalli were under consideration, Somireddy said.
