Harathi to resume at Krishna-Godavari confluence: Anam

Vijayawada: Endowments minister Anam Ramnarayana Reddy on Sunday announced that endowments department will resume the Harathi offered to Krishna and Godavari rivers at their confluence point of Pavitra Sangam in Ibrahimpatnam.

Speaking to reporters after occupying his renovated office in the second block of the secretariat complex in Velagapudi on Sunday, Ramnarayana Reddy disclosed that the state government will undertake renovation and modernisation of 160 temples in the state at a cost of ₹113 crore.

As per the first file that the endowments minister signed, 147 of the temples to be renovated are in plain areas and 13 in backward and tribal areas of Andhra Pradesh.

The second file pertains to development of the Agasteswara Swamy Temple at Mandapeta in East Godavari district at an expenditure of ₹1 crore.

Additionally, the endowments department increased the financial assistance provided to temples under the Dhoopa Deepa Naivedyam scheme from ₹5,000 to ₹10,000.

Ramnarayana Reddy said, as promised, the state government led by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has initiated the cleansing of the endowments department, starting with the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) in Tirumala.

The minister said revenue conferences will be held in all revenue villages starting from August 15. Complaints and grievances related to endowment lands will be received at these conferences and appropriate action will be taken to prevent encroachment of endowment lands in the state.

Endowments commissioner Satyanarayana, joint commissioner Azad, deputy commissioner Ratan Raju, and others were present on the occasion.