Andhra Pradesh

Functioning of Endowments Department reviewed

Srikakulam: The Regional Commissioner of Endowments, S.Kondala Rao has said that he would request district collectors of Srikakulam,Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, East Godavari, West Godavari and Krishna district to convene a meeting of senior officials of Endowments and Revenue Departments to solve the pressing issues of unauthorised occupation of temple lands, uneconomical holdings under the control of endowments departments and the delay by the revenue officials in issuing pattadar pass books to temple lands.

Speaking to newsmen after reviewing the functioning of the department in the district here on Saturday Mr. Kondala Rao said that as per the orders of the Supreme Court, temple lands should be auctioned to get better revenue, but temple land encroachers were coming in the way of conducting auction.

He said the Revenue Department could also take over uneconomical holdings (holding from which there was no income) from the Endowments Department and utilise the same for various schemes for which land was required. He said he would seek protection of endowments lands from the occupation of Left which had launched land struggle.

He said that plans were being finalised to develop the Suryanarayana Swamy temple at Arasavilli with Rs.1 crore.

The plan envisaged development of mandapam, maha pranganam, arch gates and brass queue lines.

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