HYDERABAD: A five-member sub-committee has been set up for protection of temples and temple lands in the state. Besides, the state government has decided to pay remuneration to Archakas on par with state government employees from Dec 1.
Replying to a question raised by A Venkateshwara Reddy and K Vidya Sagar Rao during the Question Hour in the on Friday, endowments minister A Indrakaran Reddy said temples and endowment lands were neglected by the governments in the erstwhile AP. However, TRS took the reins of the administration, the needed importance was being given to protect temples.
There are 12,302 temples of different categories under the control of the endowments department. Apart from protecting and developing these temples, the government has also made sure that Archakas are paid decent salaries.
Under the Dhoopa, Deepa, Naivedyam Scheme (DDNS), 3,000 more temples will be covered. The budget for DDNS has been increased from Rs 12 crore to Rs 25 crore.
For this, about 18,500 temple employees are being paid Rs 6,000 each a month, of which Rs 2,000 is meant for dhoopa, deepa, naivedyam expenses and Rs 4,000 for the salary of Archaka.
Chanaka Korata Barrage:
Irrigation minister T Harish Rao said the construction of Chanaka-Korata barrage is expected to be completed by next Kharif season.
Upon the project’s completion, 13,500 acres will be brought under cultivation under the barrage and another 37,500 acres under the Penganga project.
Rao was replying to a question on the progress of the barrage in the state Assembly.