Vijayawada: Many doubts on temple row

VIJAYAWADA: Every move of the Brahmaiahlingeswara Swamy temple committee is suspicious in removing the Sivalinga and other idols at Chikkavaram. Motive behind removing the idols from the temple with the help of cranes, laying road on to the hill, encroaching the forest and revenue lands and excavations at the fort site raises many doubts. The Brahmaiahlinge-swara temple committee removed the deities without even informing the locals and donors and shifted them to a small shed constructed on top of the hill, which is almost 6 km away from the present temple on November 25. The locals alleged that shifting of the temple in such a manner is inauspicious and unwarranted.

K.V. Prasada Rao, a local and one of the donors to the temple, said that the temple committee did not discuss with anyone and took a unilateral decision. He said even if it was decided to move the temple it has to be done according to the Agama Shastra traditions. He alleged that this was done only to facilitate the quarry lease holders with the road. In 2012, a mining lease was accorded to three persons to get gravel from the Kotagattu hill. But district forest officer P.J. Benerjee raised objections to this move as the quarry does not have any road facility and if the mining is taken up at that place a road has to be built through reserve forest area.

Setting aside his apprehensions, a mining lease was accorded. They have built the road through the forest but the forest officials booked a case. Since then quarrying was put to halt. The farmers in that area also objected to the quarrying as it will affect the crops. Mr Prasada Rao alleged that the attempt to move the temple is to silence the apprehensions of the farmers in the name of building road to the temple and to carry out quarrying.

What is more intriguing is the inaction officials. Neither the endowments department to which the temple belongs, nor the revenue officials took any action. Former MLA and Telugu Desam leader Dasari Balavardan Rao sat on a hunger strike demanding restoration of the temple. The Congress and YSRC leaders also staged prot-ests on the issue. YSRC leader K. Parthasa-radi demanded a thorough probe into the issue.

Locals also doubt that treasure-hunting activities are going on on top of the hill. It is widely believed in Chikkavaram that unidentified persons got hold of hidden treasure in 1996 when the original temple was shifted as they found 20-ft-deep hole at the place of Sivalinga. Similar excavations are taking place at the fort site, alleged the locals.