Sharada Peetham land takeover: Government beats hasty retreat after BRS protest, Peetham plea

The State government reversed its decision to allot Sharada Peetham land in Kokapet to the Water Board following protests by former Minister Harish Rao. The Chief Minister cancelled the proposed transfer, directing officials to ensure the land remains with the Peetham

Hyderabad: In a day of swift developments, the State government beat a hasty retreat on Saturday after a controversial attempt to take over land from the Sharada Peetham at Neopolis in Kokapet to hand it over to the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board, with the Chief Minister directing officials to ensure the land remained with the Peetham.

This was after former Minister T Harish Rao rushed to the spot on Saturday morning following heavy deployment of police and revenue officials at the Peetham’s land since Friday night, apparently to demolish the temple there and take over the land. Harish Rao raised strong objections over the government’s move, stating that the temple could not be demolished.

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Later, Peetham representatives met Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, who claimed ignorance of the move and instead, expressed anger over officials for ‘failing to inform him’ about the Peetham land being allocated to the Water Board.

Directing officials to see that the land allotment to Sharada Peetham be continued, he asked them to cancel the allotment to the HMWSSB. In a press release from the Chief Minister’s Office, it was stated that he held a meeting on the issue with officials at the Secretariat and also asked the Peetham representatives to meet Industries Minister D Sridhar Babu and explain the current status of structures, constructions and other aspects at the site.

Earlier, the HMWSSB had initiated steps to take over the land, stating the State government had allocated 3.95 acres at Khanapur for infrastructure development in Kokapet-Neopolis area. Considering the rapid urbanisation and drinking water requirements in the region, the State government had undertaken the Godavari Drinking Water Supply project phase II and III.

Accordingly, the HMWSSB was allocated 8.75 acres at Khanapur, which was sufficient for a proposed 22.5 ML Master Balancing Reservoir, two Elevated Level Service Reservoirs and other units. However, the Water Board requested the government for an additional 3.95 acres, including the two acres belonging to the Sharada Peetham.

Citing government permission, police personnel along with Revenue officials reached the temple late on Friday night, denying temple staff permission to perform pujas. As news spread, Harish Rao rushed to the spot on Saturday morning and pointed out that the BRS government had sanctioned the two acres to the Peetham for construction of the Rajashyamala temple in 2019. The requisite registration fee was also paid and the temple was constructed. Yet, the Revanth Reddy government was now conspiring to demolish the temple, he said.

“The temple here is not a mere structure. The move to demolish it is an attack on the sentiments and rights of Hindus. The BRS will stand by the temple management and stage protests, if Revanth Reddy does not shelve the plans,” Harish Rao had said.