Ramchandraiah Is Endowments Minister

Endowments Minister C Ramachandraiah, on Saturday, said that he would take measures to protect temple lands from being encroached upon by vested elements.

Talking to media persons after assuming charge as the Minister for Endowments, at a low-key program held at the state Secretariat, Ramachandraiah said that he would initiate firm action against land grabbers involved in the encroachment of temple lands.

Admitting that thousands of acres of temple lands have been encroached upon, he said that efforts would be made to restore the lands.

He said there were nearly 36,000 temples across the state, and that all of them need special attention.

The minister said that besides the protection of lands, he would focus on the renovation and restoration of old temples.

He also stated that steps would be taken for the regular and prompt payment of salaries to temple staff. Managements of temples would also be streamlined, he added.

Ramachandraiah said that he would make efforts to conduct daily rituals in village temples, and take steps to solve the problems being faced by archakas and veda pundits.

He thanked the Congress High Command, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, Pradesh Congress Committee president Botsa Satyanarayana, and Tirupati MLA K Chiranjeevi, for choosing him for the post.

Housing Minister Kanna Laxminarayana, Law Minister Erasu Prathap Reddy, and Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam's Executive Officer L V Subrahmanyam were also present. (INN)