Complete Bhadradri temple works before Srirama Navami: Ponguleti

Bhadrachalam: Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy directed officials to complete ongoing development and reconstruction works at the Sri Sitaramachandra Swamy temple here before the Srirama Navami celebrations in April next year.

The minister inspected development works being undertaken in and around the temple, including the Chitrakuta Mandapam, goshala, annadanam facility, Vista Complex, the route leading to the Sivalayam, northern entrance, Ramalayam, Mada streets, and other surrounding areas.

He instructed officials to complete the development works at the northern entrance before the Mukkoti festival scheduled for December this year and directed them to ensure that all other works were completed before the next Srirama Navami celebrations.

He also directed officials to complete the construction and development of ghats along the Godavari riverfront before the Godavari Pushkarams scheduled for June-July 2027.

“The first phase of development works is being taken up at an estimated cost of Rs 276 crore, and there should be no compromise on quality,” he said.

Ponguleti said Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy had laid the foundation stone for the temple development works during this year’s Srirama Navami celebrations and expressed satisfaction over their progress. Ponguleti, who was on a two-day visit to Bhadradri Kothagudem district on Friday, offered special prayers at the temple along with District Collector Ankit and MLAs Tellam Venkat Rao, Payam Venkateshwarlu, and Jare Adinarayana.

Earlier, temple priests accorded a traditional welcome to the minister and performed Vedic rituals. Ponguleti offered prayers and received holy prasadam and temple robes.

Meanwhile, the minister alleged that the previous BRS government’s failure had contributed to the threat of flooding in the Bhadrachalam region due to the Polavaram project.

Speaking to reporters after a review meeting at the Sub-Collector’s office, Ponguleti said seven mandals of the erstwhile Khammam district and five gram panchayats around Bhadrachalam were merged with Andhra Pradesh after the state bifurcation, adversely affecting Telangana’s interests.

He said that although there were no major floods currently, future backwater levels could rise by 20-25 ft above normal from Bhadrachalam to Mulugu, and urged the Centre to consider Telangana’s concerns.

“Telangana is not opposed to Polavaram, but the possible impact on Telangana’s submergence-prone areas must be taken into account,” he said.

Ponguleti said Telangana MPs and Godavari basin legislators would meet Union government leaders, along with the Chief Minister, during the upcoming Parliament session and seek a review of the project’s possible flood impact.

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