Auction of Medaram jaggery held

Khammam: Following the open auction, the jaggery (Bangaram) that would be offered during Sammakka-Saralamma Jatara of Medaram was sold off for a whopping price Rs 5.80 lakh this year. Siddaboina Anil made the highest bid of Rs 5.80 lakh in the auction to own the Jaggery that would be offered by the devotees during the Jatara, that is going to be held from January 31 to February 2.

As per PESA (Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act-1996, only tribal people are allowed to participate in the auction. More than 100 members participated in the auction that was held under the supervision of Temple Committee Chairman of Sammakka-Saralamma Kaka Lingaiah and Pujari’s Association president Siddaboina Jagga Rao.

Since there is a prohibition of selling jaggery in the Jayashankar- Bhupalpalli district, the officials conducted the auction in Manuguru. Last year also, the auction of jaggery was held in Manuguru in which some of the contractors made the highest bid for Rs 4.20 lakh and owned the jaggery.

Executive Officer of the Medaram Temple T Ramesh Babu, Jayashankar-Bhupalpalli District Excise Superintendent C V Shashidar Reddy and other officials were present along with others who participated in the auction.