HYDERABAD: Expressing unhappiness over the slow pace of Yadadri temple renovation works, chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Monday directed the officials to complete important works before the month-end and make arrangements for the Maha Kumba Samprokshanam, Sudarshana Maha Yagam and other rituals.
The state government has decided to reopen the Yadadri Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple on March 28. Before that Sudarshana yagam and other rituals would be held from March 21 under the guidance of Chinna Jeeyar Swamy.
KCR along with ministers, G Jagadish Reddy and Vemula Prashanth Reddy, chief secretary Somesh Kumar and Yadagirigutta Temple Development Authority (YTDA) officials visited the main temple area, kalyana katta,75-acre yagashala where Sudarshana yagam will be performed, Annadana satram and RTC bus stand as part of the temple renovation project.
Official sources said though the temple reopening is being planned next month, many works are still incomplete. The CM inquired about the gold coating to the main temple ‘Vimana Gopuram’ on the lines of Tirumala shrine. While it is estimated that 125 kg of gold worth Rs 60 to Rs 65 crore is required, the donations received so far are not sufficient.
The CM asked the officials to make arrangements for purchasing gold through the Reserve Bank of India. The CM, who came to Yadadri around 12.30 pm, conducted an aerial view of the temple.
He spent about seven hours in the temple town. On the lines of Sri Ramanuja Sahsrabdi Samaroham, about 5,000 to 6,000 Ruthviks along with another 3,000 to 4,000 priests from Tirumala, Bhadradri and other famous temples across the country will be coming down to perform the rituals.
Yagam preparations will be monitored by Jeeyar Swamy after Sri Ramanuja Sahasrabdi programme gets completed on February 13.
The CM enquired about protests by some shopkeepers, who lost their shops in the temple expansion works. Shopkeepers had staged a dharna when endowments minister A Indrakaran Reddy visited the temple. The minister assured them of 1,000 sq ft shop for free near Kalayana Katta complex.
