Protect temple lands from encroachments: Minister

Visakhapatnam: Union Minister for Civil Aviation and hereditary chairman of the Simhachalam Temple Trust P Ashok Gajapathi Raju here on Monday asked the Endowments officials to protect the temple lands from encroachments and grabbing.
In a review meeting with the Endowments officials soon after swearing in as the chairman of temple trust, the Minister sought details on the efforts being made by the temple in protecting the lands.
Collector Dr N Yuvaraj and executive officer of Simhachalam temple P Ramachandramohan explained him the efforts being made both by the temple administration and the revenue department.
The Collector told him that the boundary walls were being built around the vacant lands and errors in the records and survey numbers were being rectified.
The Minister suggested them to build more kalyanamandapams atop the temple for the convenience of the devotees for performing wedding ceremonies. Directing the Collector to implement the master plan for the temple development, the Minister suggested that a light and sound show on the history of the temple must be set up with the assistance of the experts to attract tourists from all over the world. He also said a power plant of one mega watt should be set up atop temple for supply of uninterrupted power to the temple. Temple executive officer P Ramachandramohan explained the Minister on the activities being taken up in the temple.
Endowments Commissioner YV Anuradha and chief city planner of GVMC D Venkataratnam were also present in the review meeting.
Earlier, Ashok took oath as the hereditary trustee of the temple in the presence of his wife Sunila Gajapathi Raju and others. He told reporters that it gave him immense pride to serve the temple as the hereditary trustee.