VIJAYAWADA: Suspense over appointment of chairman for Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam (SDMS) trust board ended on Saturday with TDP senior leader Yalamanchili Gouranga Babu sworn in as chairman for a period of 2 years.
BJP leader Veeramachaneni Rangaprasad who aspired for the coveted post quit as the trust board committee member following the appointment. Temple executive officer A Surya Kumari administered the oath-taking ceremony of eleven other members of the trust board committee.
Earlier, the trust board committee members unanimously elected Gouranga Babu as chairman and others as committee members at a meeting held at Madapati Guest House. The 15-member committee include TDP senior leader Yalamanchili Gauranga Babu, Velagapudi Sankar Babu, Badeti Dharma Rao, Kodela Surya Latha Kumari, Eedi Sambasiva Rao, Chanumolu Samba Suseela Devi, Pamarthi Vijaya Sekhar, G Padma Sekhara Rao, Viswanadhapalli Papa, Chandrupatla Lakshmi Narasimha Rao, Beeraka Purna Malli Rama Prasad, Itta Penchalaiah, Vasireddy Ramanadham, Peddireddy Raja and Lingam Botla Durga Prasad.
“The foot fall at Kanaka Durga has been increasing day by day. In this regard, the temple will be developed on all fronts in next two years. Plans are afoot to improve the basic infrastructure and cottage facility for devotees visiting the temple from various parts of the country,” said Gouranga Babu.
Speaking on the occasion, Durga Temple Executive Officer A Suryakumari rubbished media reports that claimed the temple management is prioritising VIPS and ignoring common pilgrims. However, she admitted that there has been a decline in the revenues through hundi and sevas of the temple over past few months. She said the management is looking for alternate ways to ensure steady revenue.