Koppal: For devotees of Lord Hanuman, here’s a piece of good news. The revenue department has decided to take over the Anjanadri Hill and Hanuman temple located on top of the hill in Gangavati taluk in the district which is of mythological importance and is believed to be the birthplace of Lord Hanuman. The hill is a favourite among tourists, hikers and pilgrims visiting the ancient heritage site of Hampi-Anegundi.
The number of tourists, particularly those from the northern states visiting the hill has seen a sharp increase in recent years. The hill hit the headlines after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's wife Jashoda Ben visited the temple two years ago. On Monday, officials gathered information from the priests regarding the total area of the temple, encroachment of temple land, forest department land and income of the temple including donations.
Sources said the Koppal district police had written to the district administration twice in two years recommending that the temple should be taken over by the district administration to avoid unpleasant experiences to devotees and also to avoid law and order problems. Two factions have been at loggerheads with regard to the right to perform pooja at the temple. With the dispute threatening to take a communal colour, the police had recommended that the district administration take over the administration of the temple.
Mr L.D. Chandrakanth, tahsildar, Gangavati said that some people had opposed the decision to hand over the temple administration to the Muzrai department and hence, a public meeting would be called at the earliest. Meanwhile, Hindu Samrat Dharmik Horata state president Mr Atul Kumar stated that the Muzrai department should not take over the administration of the temple. He threatened to take the matter to court if the district administration persisted with its efforts to take control of the temple. “Officials should have called a meeting to resolve the dispute between the two factions over the right to perform pooja. Instead, they have decided to take over the temple. This has shocked the Hindu community”, he said.
