Stating that the Vemulawada Temple has 5,000 kilos silver and 65 kilos gold, Endowment Minister Konda Surekha said and added that the silver will be used to make silver palanquin.
Speaking to the media at Secretariat on Friday, Konda Surekha said that the state government is committed to the Development of Yadadri, Bhadrachalam and Vemulawada temples.
Surekha said that the significant reforms have been undertaken within the Endowments Department, bringing about revolutionary changes aimed at improving operations and addressing longstanding issues.
She said that all steps were taken for the protection of Endowment lands.
The Minister said that the Telangana State Government is committed to the development and protection of key temples and endowment lands across the state. The Minister announced several initiatives aimed at making temples more accessible to devotees and safeguarding temple properties.
At a press conference held at the Telangana State Secretariat on Friday, Minister Surekha emphasised the government’s resolve to transform temples like Yadadri, Bhadrachalam, and Vemulawada. “We have already taken significant measures in various temples to bring them closer to devotees and improve their facilities,” she stated.
Minister Surekha outlined the revolutionary changes implemented in the Endowment Department, addressing issues that have persisted for over 30 years. Following the Presidential Order of 2018, the subordinate service rules were revised to reflect the zonal system. As part of this reform, a preliminary notification was issued in November 2022, followed by a final notification on July 9, 2024. “This has resulted in the appointment of 33 grade-3 government employees, the largest number of such appointments in the combined history of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana,” she said, noting that these appointments are a record in the department’s history. After six years, government employees have been successfully transferred to the Endowment Department. She further explained that temple staff was also transferred for the first time in 15 years. In addition, she highlighted the successful organization of major festivals like the Sammakka Sarakka Jatara and the Bonalu festival in 2024, as well as the live telecast of the Bhadrachalam Kalyanam Utsavam, which was broadcast even during the Election Code to reach devotees in remote areas.
Surekha reassured the public that robust measures are being taken to protect endowment properties. She revealed that geo-tagging has already been completed for 34,092 acres of temple lands, and 57% of these lands have been recorded on the Dharani web portal to prevent illegal registrations.
