The Bhadradri Sri Seetharamachandra Swamy temple in Andhra Pradesh is facing encroachment on its 890-acre land in Purushothapatnam. The Telangana government is negotiating with its Andhra Pradesh counterpart to protect the land. The temple used to receive lease revenue of Rs 3,300 per acre, but local farmers have neglected their lease obligations. The temple authorities have sought the intervention of the neighboring district collectors and priests have emphasized that the lands belong to the temple deity.
Philanthropists have donated lands in the name of the deity, including a temple land in Rajasthan. The Sri Ramachandra Swamy temple has around 1,250 acres of land mainly in Khammam district, with the remaining parts dispersed across Andhra Pradesh districts. The temple authorities engaged in a legal battle to regain control of a substantial portion measuring 722 acres that had been under cultivation by local farmers.
The Endowments Minister A Indrakaran Reddy has instructed officials to protect the temple lands by engaging in discussions with officials at the secretary level. The Telangana government is committed to maintaining regular communication with authorities in Andhra Pradesh and hopes for their support in safeguarding the lands on behalf of the Telangana government.
