Date:22/09/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/09/22/stories/2007092260100300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Improved amenities planned at Vemulawada temple

Staff Reporter

Various works being taken up at a cost of Rs. 6.5 crore

-- Photo: R. RAJU

Security steps: Vemulawada Sri Rajarajeshwaraswamy Devasthanam chairman Adi Srinivas showing the CCTV cameras installed in the temple as part of security arrangements on Friday.

VEMULAWADA (KARIMNAGAR DT.): In order to provide better basic amenities to pilgrims visiting the Sri Raja Rajeshwara Swamy Devasthanams in Vemulawada, the Devasthanam authorities have embarked upon an ambitious plan to take up developmental works at a cost of Rs. 6.5 crore this season.

Talking to The Hindu here on Friday, Vemulawada Devasthanam chairman Adi Srinivas said they had decided to construct modern queue lines on par with Shirdi temple shrine at a cost of Rs. 67 lakh. They also decided to modernise the existing kalyanakatta at a cost of Rs. 63 lakhs.

Besides, the Devasthanam plans to construct 108 rooms for pilgrims at a cost of Rs. 3.3 crore and two big dormitories at a cost of Rs. 1.3 crore to accommodate about 10,000 people. A water tank would be built a cost of Rs. 38 lakh to store about 4 lakh litres of water. Plans were afoot to modernise the temple kitchen at a cost of Rs. 11 lakhs.

Work on the lifting of LMD reservoir water from Karimnagar town to Vemulawada was also fast progressing. The project was taken up at a cost of Rs. 9.34 crore which included Rs. 3 crore contributed by the Devasthanam. Mr. Srinivas said drinking water supply project would be completed within six months.

He said the temple town was also being beautified by creating traffic islands and water fountains. The gold plating works of the main ‘gopuram’ of the presiding deity would be taken up by the TTD very soon.

CCTVs

As part of the intensified security arrangements for the temple shrine, Mr. Srinivas said they had installed 16 CCTV cameras at a cost of Rs. 10.6 lakh. The authorities had also installed a cellular phone jammer facility in the temple.

The CCTVs were installed at the entrance, inside the garbagudi, kalyanakatta, inquiry counter, dharma gundam, queue lines, prasadam distribution centres and other places. Besides, the SPF and local police personnel would also provide security to the temple shrine.