Old City gets 6 cr for Bonalu

​Hyderabad: Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has sanctioned Rs 6 crore for the development of temples in the Old City to celebrate Bonalu festival on grand scale, according to Minister for Animal Husbandry Talasani Srinivas Yadav.

The Minister was chairing a review meeting with the officials and the members of the temple committees at Salarjung Museum auditorium on Thursday.

The members of the temple committees in the Old City gave the details of the works to be taken up in their respective temples. The Minister directed the officials to take the note of the problems raised by the members of the temple committees, resolve them within 48 hours and give the action taken report to him. He said Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao was keen on ensuring that all arrangements are made, so that no inconvenience is caused to the devotees during the festival.

Srinivas Yadav said only the TRS government was promoting the the festivals like Bonalu, Ramzan and Christmas and only the TRS government was taking up the celebrations on a large scale. He asked the officials to create WhatsApp groups of officials concerned, so that the issues can be addressed speedily.

He said the government would distribute Rs 5 crore to temples for taking up renovations and beautifications. He further said that the police department would also take measures like providing security for the Old City Bonalu festival to be celebrated on July 16 and 17.

The minister informed that pattu vastrams would be offered on behalf of the state government. Huge Bonalu procession would be taken out on July 17 from Madannapet temple, which would pass through Shah Ai Banda, Lal Darwaza, Macca Masjid, Charminar and end at Nayapul.

The devotees coming to the processions would be enthralled with performance by the artists of culture department at 50 places. Other arrangements like providing 4,000 halogen lights, special lighting to Charminar by tourism department etc would be provided in the old city.