KHAMMAM: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) wants to revive and develop three historic places in Khammam district so as to transform them as vibrant tourism spots.
Party leader Gentela Vidyasagar submitted a letter to Union minister for tourism and culture G Kishan Reddy in Kodad on Thursday.
Vidyasagar said the three included the Buddha Stupa, the birthplace of Bhakta Ramadas in Nelakondapalli and the Sivalayam in Kusumanchi. “All three have historical relevance and archeological importance. They can be developed into top tourist spots if the Union Government allocates funds required to refurbish the sites and bring them alive”, he said.
The BJP leader said that the state archaeology department undertook excavations between 1976 and 1985 and found one of the largest stupas – 54 feet height and 84 metre inner diameter and 138 feet outer diameter – with ring and spoke architecture. The structure was estimated to have been built in the third or fourth century.
He said that the birthplace of the great saint Ramadas should be made a tourist spot apart from the Sivalayam in Kusumanchi that was built during the Kakatiya rule. Ramdas’s contribution to Bhadrachalam and Hindus is commemorated every year as Bhakta Ramadas Ustavalu.
Vidyasagar said that Khammam has been witnessing a lot of sports activity. He asked Kishan Reddy to sanction Rs 25 crore to create sports infrastructure in Khammam under ‘Khelo India’ scheme.
Plans on the anvil include swimming pools, multipurpose indoor stadium, surfaces for wrestling, handball, kabaddi, sepak-takraw and basketball apart from a synthetic athletic track.
