Andhra minister Vellampalli Srinivas Rao clarifies on reopening of temples, says will abide by govt's decision

Andhra Pradesh: The Endowment ministry is taking preventive measures in all the temples as it is hoping to get an exemption from the lockdown from May 18. As part of this, the Ministry will reportedly hold a key meeting on Monday under the leadership of Minister Vellampalli Srinivas. All the temple authorities would instruct the officials of the temples to allow the devotees to the darshans if the central and state governments exempt lockdown.

Minister of State for Religious Affairs, Vellampalli Srinivas Rao said that the pilgrims would be allowed into the temples only after clear instructions from the central and state governments. It has been revealed that all the temple EO's has already issued guidelines to allow devotees through the Tunnel by maintaining physical distances to avoid any difficulties for the devotees in view of the seriousness of the coronavirus pandemic.

He said that all the precautionary measures were taken to clean the temples from time to time in terms of sanitation in temples. It is explained that arrangements have been made to make the Divine Darshan without the devotees being collided. He also said that the temples in Andhra Pradesh will have to minimise the duration of darshans and made clear that only a limited number of devotees would be allowed.

He said that the temples had lost revenue amid lockdown. However, it made clear that all the temples had funds and would run the services. The Dept. has also assured that there would be cutting of employees.