TTD chairman Kanumuri Bapi Raju on Saturday responding to the issue of high court’s interim order asking the TTD to immediately protect and renovate the Vakula Matha temple on Perur Banda said that the TTD is yet to receive the High Court directions. However, he said TTD will abide by the orders of the court and will begin renovation of the temple at the earliest.
Meanwhile, urging the TTD to immediately renovate the Vakula Matha temple and restore it to its glory and rightful place, BJP state spokesperson G Bhanuprakash Reddy wanted the TTD to atleast lay the foundation stone before the commencement of the Navaratri Brahmotsavams. It may be recalled here that the Vakula Matha temple on the hillock, known as Peruru Banda at Perur village is in a dilapidated condition.
Speaking to mediapersons, here on Saturday, Reddy said that, the TTD authorities till now had not moved a stone, always claiming that ‘as the issue was sub-judice, they
cannot take any steps’. But, as the high court in its interim order on Friday, directed the TTD to renovate the temple as soon as possible and ordered the administration to take steps to stop quarrying activities around the temple, the TTD officials should immediately swing into action and renovate the temple, he said.
He also sought the mining and police department officials to take steps and put an end to quarrying on the hillock and provide adequate security to protect the hillock and temple.
Legend has it that Vakula Matha was the mother of Lord Venkateswara. But, the ancient temple has been neglected by TTD authorities for a long time. With quarrying taking place in and around the hillock the temple is now on the verge of collapse.
While Hindu religious heads and leaders of various political parties have been making a hue and cry over the pathetic condition of the temple, villagers of Perur as well as the surrounding areas argue that they will lose their main source of livelihood, once quarrying is banned in the region. Such an impasse between villagers who are earning a livelihood from quarrying and the TTD and state government has led to the TTD and state government not taking any initiatives with regard to the protection and renovation of the temple.