Durga temple to be developed with Rs 225 crore funds, says Endowments minister
VIJAYAWADA: Deputy chief minister and minister for endowments Kottu Satyanarayana has said many decisions have been taken for transparency in tenders for works of his department.
Speaking to the media after a review meeting with the officials on Tuesday, he said large-scale contract works were being done under the Endowments department. Many steps have been taken to improve the quality of the contract works, he claimed.
He said a decision has been taken to set up an accounts department in the commissionerate office to avoid delay in payments. Henceforth, payments will be made through this accounts department for all the contract works across the state.
Satyanarayana said a Hindu Dharma Prachara programme is on for the last few months. In addition to monthly festivals in major temples, weekly festivals are being organised in 6(a) temples in Uttarandhra and Rayalaseema areas.
Next week, a Dharma Prachara programme will be arranged in the Godavari districts.
The minister said many programmes have been undertaken with crores of rupees for the development of temples across the state. The development works of the Sri Durgamalleswara Swamy Temple in Vijayawada at an estimated cost of Rs 225 crore, the Sri Bramarambika Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple in Srisailam at Rs 150 crore, as also works on Kanipakam, Srikalahasti and Annavaram temples have already been undertaken.
Similarly, the development works of Simhachalam and Dwaraka Tirumala temples will be taken up soon. For this, tenders have been called and a state-level committee under the chairmanship of the Commissioner of Endowments is being formed to ensure and finalize these tenders. Development works are done in a very transparent manner, he claimed.
A state level tender committee is also being set up to determine the rates of the main ingredients of the Prasadams. “We are entering into an agreement with the approved lab NABL in this respect,” he said.
The minister stated that the Srivani Trust is carrying out construction works of 3000 new temples at an estimated cost of Rs 300 crore. Renovation works of many temples are being carried out at an estimated cost of Rs 500 crore.
“However, many problems are being faced due to the lack of engineering staff required for the constructions. A set of assistant engineers, supervisors, technical assistants, draftsmen, inspectors and deputy inspectors will be appointed on outsourcing basis through the engineering colleges,” he said.
