Telangana Assembly passes Endowments Bill, Yadagirigutta temple to get trust board

The newly formed Yadagirigutta Temple Trust Board will have 18 members with a two-year tenure, according to Endowments Minister Konda Surekha

Hyderabad: The Telangana Assembly on Tuesday unanimously passed the Telangana Charitable and Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowments (Amendment) Bill, 2025, paving the way for key reforms, including the establishment of a trust board for the Yadagirigutta Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple.

Endowments Minister Konda Surekha announced that the newly formed Yadagirigutta Temple Trust Board (YTD Board) would have 18 members with a two-year tenure. An IAS officer would serve as the temple’s Executive Officer (EO), with the board’s budget under government control.

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She also highlighted the government’s efforts in improving temple facilities and increasing pilgrim footfall through free bus services for women.

However, senior BRS leader T Harish Rao found fault with the Congress government for failing to acknowledge former Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao’s role in developing Yadadri, without any political motives.

He proposed amendments, including appointing MLAs and MLCs to the board and ensuring representation for tribal communities. He also urged the State government to construct a medical college in Yadadri to cater to the rising influx of devotees.

The former Minister demanded the formation of trust boards for high-income temples like Vemulawada and suggested that salaries of key temple officials be paid from temple revenues as in Tirupati, instead of government funds, to ensure that God-fearing officials work with dedication.

He accused the Congress of neglecting temple development over the last 15 months, due to lack of fund allocation.

He urged the government to fulfill promises on temple aid, revive halted projects, and ensure timely payment of temple employees’ salaries. He criticised the Congress for stalling temple development, failing to release funds, and neglecting Brahmin welfare initiatives.