Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh YS Jagan Mohan Reddy performed bhoomi puja for the reconstruction of nine temples in Vijayawada. These temples will be built after a gap of more than four years. The CM also visited the Kanaka Durga temple to lay the foundation stone for temple development works.
Old temples like Seethammavari Padalu, Dakshina Mukha Anjaneya Swamy temple, Rahu Ketu temple and Venugopala temple had been among the dozens of temples demolished during Krishna Pushkarams, during the TDP regime in the 2016.
The initial reconstruction work of the nine temples is estimated to cost Rs 3.79 crores. The government is going to spend a total of Rs. 77 crores which has been sanctioned by the government for the purpose of Durga temple development works. Out of the sanctioned amount, Rs 23.60 crores will be used for the construction of a permanent building for the tonsure hall, Rs 8.5 crores for the construction of Prasadam Potu, Rs 6.5 crores for carrying out repair works to prevent the rolling of boulders on Indrakeeladri, Rs 5.6 crores for reconstructing Lord Malleswara Swamy temple, Rs 5.25 crores for constructing a toll plaza on the lines of Alipiri in Tirupati, Rs 2.75 crores for developing energy and water management systems and Rs 2 crores for the expansion of the Lord Malleswara Swamy temple entrance.
The AP government is also planning to form state and district level ‘Communal Harmony Committees’ to promote peace, while safeguarding religious sentiments. At a press conference, religious heads from the Hindu, Muslim and Christian communities lauded the Andhra Pradesh government for its proactive measures to ensure that the communal harmony that the state has always been known for isn’t tarnished. Chief Archaka of TTD, Venugopala Deekshithulu, said, “Citizens from all faiths are peacefully leading their lives in the state at this point of time. We should continue to do the same without falling prey to the misinformation propagated by certain interest groups. We should cooperate with the government and contribute to the development of the state.”
Syed Ahmed Peer Shahmiri, the Sajjada Nasheen of the Khalkha-E-Shahmiria, also praised the government for the initiative to form ‘Communal Harmony Committees’ and for other welfare initiatives undertaken by CM Jagan Mohan Reddy. “I applaud the government for its proactive move of forming these committees. It hurts me to see that some people with vested interests are resorting to demolishing Hindu temples. The state is developing under this CM and at this juncture I appeal to each and every citizen of this state to live in harmony and not pay heed to those who are using God,” he said.