On Sunday, Chief Whip D Vinay Bhaskar spoke to media persons at the Thousand Pillars Temple in Hanumakonda about the lack of concern shown by the BJP-led Central government towards protecting the rich heritage of the Kakatiya dynasty. He stated that while the BJP uses temples for political mileage, they seldom focus on their development.
Vinay Bhaskar went on to discuss the slow progress in restoring the Kalyana Mandapam, comprising of 132 pillars, which was approved for restoration by the Centre in 2005. The Centre released Rs 3.5 crore in 2006 and targeted to complete the works by 2009, but due to inordinate delay, the work estimate increased to Rs 7.50 crore. The ASI requires another Rs 6 crore to complete the works.
The Chief Whip also highlighted that despite the State government developing the area in front of the main entrance of the temple with Rs 20 crore and ensuring amenities for visitors, the ASI failed to complete the works. Even though the footfall of tourists and devotees was on the rise, there was no progress in the works.
Vinay Bhaskar expressed disappointment that even after Tourism Minister G Kishan Reddy visited the temple in August 2022 and asserted that the works would be completed by the year-end, there was no progress in the works.
Thousand Pillars Temple chief priest Gangu Upendra Sharma, Kakatiya Urban Development Authority chairman S Sunder Raj Yadav, Corporator Vemula Srinivas, and KUDA project officer E Ajith Reddy were among others present at the event.
