The Sampadak Express News Desk
Telangana is undertaking temple development works estimated at ₹2,500 crore across the State, with around ₹2,000 crore focused on shrines along the Godavari and other riverbanks ahead of next year’s Godavari Pushkaralu, Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka said on Sunday.
Announcing specific allocations, he said ₹276 crore had been earmarked for the Sri Sitaramachandra Swamy temple at Bhadrachalam and ₹354 crore for the Sri Gnana Saraswati temple at Basar. He outlined the plans while visiting Khammam district, according to The Hindu.
Vikramarka spoke after laying the foundation stone for a road project costing ₹44 crore at Nacharam village in Enkoor mandal. The road is intended to improve access for devotees and generate employment and livelihood opportunities for local youth, he said. He also offered prayers at the village’s Adbhutha Venkateswara Swamy temple.
Highlighting broader welfare measures of the Congress government, the Deputy Chief Minister said fine rice was being distributed to 1.06 crore families and that Rajiv Aarogyasri provided free medical treatment up to ₹10 lakh per family. Rythu Bharosa assistance was being extended to 71 lakh farmers, and 53 lakh families were receiving free electricity for consumption of up to 200 units a month.
Other initiatives he cited included interest-free loans to women, social security pensions for eligible beneficiaries, free bus travel for women and Indiramma houses for the poor. In education, the State is implementing a breakfast scheme for 27 lakh students in government schools, setting up Advanced Technology Centres and taking up construction of Young India Integrated Residential Schools in every Assembly constituency at an estimated cost of ₹200 crore, he said.
On infrastructure, Vikramarka said road development works worth ₹90,000 crore were under way across Telangana. He added that the government was taking steps to ensure uninterrupted power supply even as electricity demand has exceeded 20,000 MW.
Referring to the potential impact of El Nino, he urged people to conserve water and appealed to farmers to monitor groundwater levels and use agricultural pumps judiciously.
