Warangal: Lokayukta Justice C.V. Ramulu expressed displeasure with endowments department officials for failing to act against a private college that allegedly encroached on land belonging to the historic Siddeshwara Swamy temple in Hanamkonda. He ordered the officials to present a complete report before the Lokayukta by November 25.
Consumer council national general secretary Sambaraju Chakrapani and Kakatiya Varasthva Parirakshana Samiti President Chikati Raju filed a complaint with the endowments department about the encroachment 10 months ago. They alleged that the college management had taken control of approximately nine guntas of temple land and provided evidence of the encroachment in survey number 882.
Following the complaint, department officials conducted a survey, confirmed the encroachment, and issued notices to the college. However, the college’s response was deemed unsatisfactory, leading higher authorities to order a case to be filed against the college management. Despite these orders, no case was filed, and no further action was taken. This led Chakrapani and Raju to file a petition with the Lokayukta.
Each time the Lokayukta summoned officials for inquiry, they sent lower-level officers instead, attempting to avoid accountability. Angered by this behaviour, Justice Ramulu ordered Assistant Commissioner R. Sunitha to appear in court on November 11. She requested two months to compile a detailed report on land encroachments affecting not only Siddeshwara Swamy temple but also other temples in Warangal and Hanamkonda. However, Justice Ramulu granted only 15 days, setting the deadline for November 25.
Meanwhile, locals are calling on the state government and endowments minister, Konda Surekha, who represents Warangal, to conduct a thorough survey of temple lands statewide. They suggest that similar to the HYDRAA initiative for protecting water bodies, a dedicated body should be established to safeguard temple lands from politically connected land encroachers.
