Telangana to formulate policy for land allotment for mutts at Yadagirigutta temple
Hyderabad, June 30
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has directed officials to formulate a clear policy regarding the allocation of lands to various mutts within the jurisdiction of Shri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Devasthanam at Yadagirigutta.
He emphasised that ownership rights of the land should primarily remain with the temple.
The Chief Minister reviewed the development of the temple at a high-level meeting held at the MCR HRD Bhoomi Pavilion.
He clearly stated that the policy followed by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) regarding land allocation within the temple's jurisdiction should be studied.
On this occasion, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy suggested allocating land at market price for the Hare Rama Hare Krishna (Charitable) Foundation in Yadagirigutta.
He said that a list of those coming forward for the construction of guest houses on the hill should be prepared. He called for following the policy of TTD in the construction of guest houses and said permissions should be granted in phases. He also stated that a policy with clear regulations should be formulated regarding land allocation to caste associations.
The Chief Minister directed officials to immediately release funds for land acquisition for various development works within the temple's jurisdiction.
He ordered a comprehensive study of the report given by the engineers' committee regarding the construction of Yadagirigutta temple and to submit a report within a week. Similarly, he said that the tourism circuit should be developed under the Public-Private Partnership policy.
Those who attended the meeting include Rajya Sabha member Vem Narendar Reddy; MPs Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy and Kunduru Raghuvir Reddy; Government Whip Beerla Ilaiah; MLA Kumbam Anil Kumar Reddy; Special Chief Secretary Jayesh Ranjan; Principal Secretary (Endowments) Shailaja Ramaiyer; Commissioner (Endowments) M. Hanumantha Rao; Principal Secretary (Finance) Sandeep Kumar Sultania; CMO Secretary Manik Raj; CMO OSD Vemula Srinivasulu; and senior officials from Yadadri district and the temple administration.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Finally some structured thinking for Yadagirigutta! The temple has grown so much in recent years, but land allocation was always messy. I'm glad they're looking at TTD's policies—those have proven effective. Just hope the "market price" thing for charitable foundations doesn't make it unaffordable for genuine religious trusts. Also, developing the tourism circuit could boost local economy.
Interesting to see how Indian states manage temple properties. I visited Yadagirigutta last year during a business trip and was amazed by the devotion there. This policy seems like a wise way to balance religious interests with development. The PPP model for the tourism circuit could make it a major pilgrimage destination comparable to Tirumala. Smart governance.
One concern: why give land to specific foundations like ISKCON at market price? If it's for genuine spiritual work, maybe subsidized rates make sense. But I agree with keeping ownership with the temple—prevents land grabbing that we've seen elsewhere. Also, releasing funds for land acquisition is welcome; Yadagirigutta development has been pending for too long.
As someone from Nalgonda district, I've seen Yadagirigutta transform. This policy is long overdue. I hope they also consider providing basic amenities like proper roads and sanitation for pilgrims. And please, don't make it too commercial like some other temples—keep the spiritual essence intact. The TTD model is good but even they face criticism for overt commercialization sometimes.
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