Author: Syed Amin Jafri in Hyderabad
Publication: Rediff on Net
Date: November 11, 2003
URL: http://in.rediff.com/news/2003/nov/11ap1.htm
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu
has an ambitious plan to construct 7,400 Venkateswara temples in Andhra
Pradesh with financial assistance from the cash-rich Tirumala-Tirupati
Devasthanam trust.
The TTD Trust Board is meeting on
November 15 to consider the plan that entails an outlay of Rs 100 crore.
The government wants to construct
at least 25 temples, known as 'Gita mandirs', in each of the 294 assembly
constituencies in the state. Each temple will cost Rs 1.5 lakh.
Under the scheme, philanthropists
will donate the land and contribute 10 per cent of the construction cost.
The construction of temples will
be undertaken under the supervision of district collectors and endowments
department officials.
