Andhra allocates Rs 800 cr for development of 692 neglected ancient temples
Explaining the achievements of the Endowments Department in the last two years during the TDP-led government, Reddy said that the funds required to develop these temples have been approved under the ‘Sarvasreyonidhi’ scheme.
“We have created history by allocating Rs 813 million to Sarvyasreyonidhi for the development of 692 neglected ancient temples,” he said while addressing a press conference at the secretariat.
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The Endowments Minister said the ministry has set a target of constructing 5,000 ‘Srivani Bhajan Mandirs’ (places of worship) at a cost of Rs 750 crore with the collaboration of TTD, the official custodian of the Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple in Tirupati.
Of the proposed target, Reddy said that approval has been given for 1,270 ‘Srivani Bhajan Mandirs’ with an allocation of Rs 267 million.
According to the minister, the annual allocation for ‘dhoopa deepa naivedya’ scheme (rituals like lighting lamps, smoke and others) in 6,137 temples across the state has been doubled from Rs 35 million to Rs 73 crore. He also said that the Endowments Department has started blockchain-based digitization of around 4.5 lakh acres of land belonging to 22,672 temples to protect them.
Across 111 temples in the southern state, Reddy said the government has extended ‘Annaprasada Vitarana’ (free food) to three crore devotees every year.
“In the last two years, the footsteps of devotees in major temples have increased by 70 percent. People’s faith in temples has increased,” he said.
Reddy said 162 development works have been initiated at a cost of Rs 72 billion to carry out Godavari Pushkaralu (pilgrimage along Godavari river) on the lines of Kumbh Mela.
