Date:14/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/14/stories/2008071454930600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Finance Minister lays stone for temple

Staff Reporter

Kakinada: Finance Minister K Rosaiah laid the foundation stone for renovation works at Sri Balatripura Sundari Sametha Sri Ramalingeswara Swamy temple here on Sunday. He participated in rituals performed to mark the commencement of works costing Rs. 21 lakh (Rs. 18 lakh for granite flooring and Rs. 3 lakh for paintings).

According to temple committee chairman Sunkara Satyanarayana, a sum of Rs. 57 lakh has already been spent on various works. Plans were drawn to build a five-storied ‘Raja gopuram’ in place of the existing one and to take up other development works at a total cost of Rs. 25 lakh. The process of reclaiming adjoining piece of land that belongs to the temple is in process.

Kakinada MLA Mutha Gopalakrishna, Joint Commissioner of Endowments S. Kondala Rao and others were present.