Telangana News: Many contenders for posts in Telangana’s Bhadradri Temple Board

KHAMMAM. Khammam: The posts of chairman and members of the Sri Sita Ramachandra Swamy Temple Trust Board have been vacant since 2012, but after the change of government in the state, some Congress leaders are now eyeing the posts in the board.
The temple is famous across the country and is often referred to as the Ayodhya of South India. It holds immense historical significance as Lord Rama, Sita Devi and Lord Lakshmana are believed to have stayed here during their exile and it was from here that Ravana abducted Sita Devi from Parnasala, about 35 km from Bhadrachalam.
The temple generates an annual revenue of Rs 50 crore and is visited by lakhs of devotees. Despite this, the previous BRS government has been accused of neglecting the development of the temple, mainly due to the absence of an active trust board.
The trust board, which was in existence till 2012, was not reappointed after its term ended. The BRS Government, which came to power in 2014, did not prioritise the appointment of a new board.

In 2016, though the government invited applications for the trust board, no appointments have been made. Former CM K Chandrasekhar Rao announced a development fund of Rs 100 crore for the temple in 2016, but the funds have not been released yet.

During the tenure of BRS, several devotees, prominent persons and BRS leaders sought positions in the trust board, but no appointments have been made.

There is stiff competition for positions among politicians, businessmen and prominent devotees. When temple officials were contacted, they confirmed that no order has been received to start accepting applications.