The Telangana government today began the process of planning the preservation and development of the historic Ramappa temple in Mulugu district which was recently
tagged as world heritage site by the UNESCO.
The government is preparing an action plan to develop the site. As part of this effort, it will reportedly acquire over 27 acres land around the site. District officials have been tasked with acquiring the land and with providing the necessary financial help to those ousted in the process.
Talking about the project after visiting the site, Tourism and Culture Minister V Srinivas Goud stated that the Mulugu Collector and some revenue officials would coordinate the land acquisition process. He added that under the temple protection project, the government would not only be developing the Ramappa temple but also two temples located close by.
"The UNESCO recently tagged the Ramappa temple as a world heritage structure. Following this, Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao is keen to develop the 13th century structure into a world class cultural tourist destination. The modalities as to how the site is to be developed are being worked out," the minister stated.
Goud visited the site along with ministers Errabelli Dayakar Rao and Satyavathi Rathod, TSPC Deputy Chairman B Vinod Kumar, MP M Kavitha, MLA Seethakka and several officials. They performed special pujas to Rudreshwara Swamy during the visit.
Later, the ministers told the media, "Our government, unlike its predecessors, will develop the site. The people who own lands near the structure will be compensated for giving up their proprieties for the sake of the development of the temple. No injustice will be done to the land owners."
Here, it is pertinent to point out that these efforts come after the Telangana High Court recently instructed the TRS government to
form a committee of officials to protect the temple.
A bench, comprising state Chief Justice Hima Kohli and Justice B Vijaysen Reddy, had heard a petition on the matter and had told the government to ensure that the committee conduct a meeting on August 4 and start working on developing the site as an international tourist destination as per the guidelines of the UNESCO.
Further, the government was asked to send an official team to inspect the structure and to submit a report on the status of the temple development plan in four weeks.