Latest news with #EndowmentsDepartment
Hans India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Govt bid to loot temple lands: YSRCP
Guntur: YSRCP senior leader and former MLA Malladi Vishnu vehemently condemned the TDP-led coalition government's move to allocate temple lands without transparent public auctions, as outlined in GO Ms No 139, issued on May 2, this year. In a statement released to media, he described the order, which amends the Andhra Pradesh Charitable and Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowments Immovable Properties and Other Rights Leases and Licenses Rules, 2003, as a 'sinister attempt' to plunder the sacred assets of Andhra Pradesh's temples. He highlighted that the Endowments Department manages 4.67 lakh acres of temple lands, a sacred trust meant to sustain religious institutions. He criticised the TDP government, led by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, for permitting the leasing of these lands to select organisations under the pretext of 'charitable activities' for up to 33 years at nominal rates, bypassing mandatory public auctions. He stressed that this move violates High Court and Supreme Court rulings, which mandate auctions for leasing temple lands and require prior court approval for any transfers.
New Indian Express
21-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Telangana HC sets aside Endowments dept notice to Union Minister Bandi Sanjay
HYDERABAD: The Telangana High Court has allowed a writ petition by Union Minister Bandi Sanjay, setting aside a 2016 notice from the Endowments Department directing him to register the Mahashakti Temple in Chaitanyapuri under Section 43(1) of the Endowments Act. The court ruled that the absence of a hundi or puja charges does not make a temple private, and all Hindu public temples fall under Section 1(3)(b) of the Endowments Act, 1987. Authorities were directed to consider Sanjay's 2016 plea for exemption under Section 154 within three months. Sanjay claimed he built the temple in 2010 at a cost of Rs 2 crore with no revenue generated, and that maintenance is handled solely by his family. The court criticised officials for not evaluating the temple's income or acting on Sanjay's request for nine years.
The Hindu
16-05-2025
- The Hindu
Saraswati Pushkaralu: Kaleshwaram reverberates with spiritual vivacity
Nestled on the banks of Triveni Sangamam, Kaleshwaram, the ancient Shaiva Kshetra, echoed with a wave of devotion as pilgrims thronged the pilgrimage centre in hordes, as part of the spiritual sojourn, on the second day of Saraswati Pushkaralu on Friday. The Saraswati Ghat, where the subterranean 'Antarvahini Saraswati' river joins the Godavari and Pranahita rivers, was swarmed by pilgrims who took a holy dip at the sacred confluence point of the three rivers. Anticipating a surge in pilgrim footfall on Saturday and Sunday, the authorities have stepped up crowd management, sanitation and safety measures in Kaleshwaram. Meanwhile, 'Sankashta Hara Ganapati Homam' was performed at Sri Kaleshwara Mukteswara Swamy temple on Friday. The 12-day event will conclude on May 26. Historical significance: The sanctum sanctorum of the ancient temple in Kaleshwaram houses two Shiva lingas known as Lord Kaleshwara (Yama) and Lord Mukteeswara (Shiva) on a single pedestal bearing profound religious significance. The holy temple complex houses other temples dedicated to Goddesses Saraswati Devi and Shubhananda Devi, among other deities. Well-connected by road: Kaleshwaram is well-connected with major cities or towns such as Hyderabad (268 km), Warangal (120 km) Karimnagar (133 km), Mancherial (68 km), Khammam (225 km), Sironcha of Maharashtra (10 km), Bhopalpatnam of Chhattisgarh (69 km). NH353C passes through Kaleshwaram linking the holy pilgrimage site with neighbouring Maharashtra. The nearest railway stations are Mancherial (68 km), Ramagundam (71 km) and Warangal (120 km). The RGIA in Shamshabad is the nearest airport from Kaleshwaram. Tourist attractions: Wadadham Fossil Park in Gadchiroli district of neighbouring Maharashtra is about 27 km from Kaleshwaram. Another major tourist attraction is the historic Ramappa temple, dating back to the 13th century, a UNESCO World Heritage site, in Mulugu district. The Kakatiya-era temple is located about 80 km from Kaleshwaram. The TGSRTC is operating direct buses between Kaleshwaram-Hyderabad, Kaleshwaram-Warangal, Kaleshwaram-Karimnagar, Kaleshwaram-Manthani and on various other routes spanning most parts of the State apart from the inter-State bus services between Kaleshwaram-Sironcha and several other destinations. The Endowments Department's toll-free helpline is 9484950056. Further details about accommodation, ghats, events, parking and medical facilities at Kaleshwaram, are available on the official website at
Hans India
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Aagama pundits will have final say: Endowments Minister
Ongole: Endowments Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy along with Social Welfare Minister Dr Dola Sree Bala Veeranjaneya Swamy, collector A Thameem Ansariya, and others inaugurated the Endowments Department Assistant Commissioner's office building in Ongole on Monday. Speaking on the occasion, Ramanarayana said that the Aagama pundits will decide on the services being offered to the presiding deities, and the department officials have no say in it. He said that establishing endowments department offices in every district is a key decision of the coalition government, following the directions of the Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu. He said that a similar office was recently opened in Nellore, and Regional Joint Commissioner and Assistant Commissioner offices will soon be inaugurated in the Tirupati district. The minister highlighted that monthly funding for temple rituals (Dhupa Deepa Naivedyam) has been increased to Rs 10,000 for approximately 5,600 temples, up from the previous government's allocation of Rs 5,000, covering only 5,000 temples. He said that proposals for an additional 300 temples are currently under review for inclusion in the programme. The Minister outlined several ongoing initiatives, including temple renovation under the Conservation Grant Fund (CGF) scheme, expediting funds allocation based on requests from parliamentary and assembly constituencies, providing Rs 3,000 for three years to Vedic scholars, implementing salary support of Rs 15,000 for temple priests and Rs 20,000 for Nayi Brahmins in temples. Minister Ramanarayana Reddy added that Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has ordered the implementation of daily free meal programmes at major temples across the state. He emphasised that reforms in the Endowments department have begun, with directives to plant trees at temples for environmental protection, and to ensure that all temple rituals are conducted according to Agama Shastra traditions, with final decisions resting with Agama scholars rather than department officials. MLAs Damacharla Janardhana Rao, Muthumula Ashok Reddy, Kandula Narayana Reddy, Dr Mukku Ugranarasimha Reddy, BN Vijay Kumar, AP Maritime Board chairman Damacharla Sathya, APTDC chairman Dr Nukasani Balaji, and others participated in the programme.
The Hindu
12-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Special officers appointed for Saraswati Pushkaralu; Minister Sridhar Babu inspects preparations
To ensure effective sanitation management during the upcoming Saraswati Pushkaralu, the Panchayat Raj and Rural Development (PR & RD) Department has appointed 50 special officers. These include four District Panchayat Officers (DPOs), four District Level Panchayat Officers (DLPOs), 14 Mandal Parishad Development Officers (MPDOs), and 28 Mandal Panchayat Officers (MPOs). They will report to the Jayashankar Bhupalpally Collector and coordinate with ground-level staff to maintain cleanliness throughout the festival. The 12-day Saraswati Pushkaralu will begin on May 15 at Triveni Sangamam near Kaleshwaram, where the Godavari, Pranahita, and the invisible Saraswati rivers converge. The State government is making elaborate preparations to ensure the event is a grand success. As part of these efforts, IT and Industries Minister D. Sridhar Babu, who represents the Manthani Assembly constituency that includes Kaleshwaram, inspected the arrangements on Sunday. He stressed the need for quality in all works related to the festival, particularly in sanitation, electrification and security. He also directed officials to prepare a minute-to-minute schedule to ensure smooth conduct of the festivities. The Minister conducted an inspection of key areas, including the VIP ghat, the Goddess Saraswati statue, and other sites. He directed officials to expedite pending works, such as completing the main building for Pindapradhanam, and recommended robust security measures for pilgrims. He also called for special officers from the Endowments Department to oversee the special Aarti programme. The government is setting up a tent city in Kaleshwaram, with provisions for temporary lighting, toilets and uninterrupted power supply. Daily food distribution for devotees, along with transportation and crowd control arrangements, will also be in place. A 17-foot monolithic idol of Goddess Saraswati has been placed at the newly built Saraswati Ghat. With the Chief Minister and Governor expected to visit during the festival, the government is making all efforts to ensure a grand and successful celebration. The Minister instructed officials to install street lights, repair roads, and ensure cleanliness throughout the town. He also emphasised the importance of maintaining quality in all works and warned contractors that action will be taken if quality is compromised. Principal Secretary of the Endowments Department Shailaja Ramiyer, Endowments director S. Venkata Rao, Jayashankar Bhupalpally Collector Rahul Sharma and Superintendent of Police (SP) Kiran Khare accompanied him.
