Tension over move to raze temple

Visakhapatnam: Tensions prevailed at Gnanapuram area in the city close to the eastern side of the railway station on Saturday when local people and eunuchs opposed GVMC and revenue department’s move to demolish Sri Yernimamba temple for road widening works.

Watchman of the temple T Sanyas Rao told this correspondent that the GVMC officials, along with revenue and police, came to the temple premises at 6 am and planned to demolish the temple.

Most of the devotees, who visit the temple and some eunuchs stopped them, and staged a dharna in front of the temple.

The local people had heated arguments with the GVMC officials and tried to attack them citing that the temple was one of the oldest in the city and has been providing direct and indirect employment to many people.

As the situation turned tense on the spot following the stiff resistance from the local people over the demolition, the police officers deployed more constables to prevent any untoward incident.

The GVMC and revenue department wanted to demolish the temple for widening of the road to mitigate the traffic congestion close to the railway station.

Later, the temple members held talks with the GVMC authorities in the presence of executive officer K Srinivasa Rao.

The GVMC officials said the demolition has been put on hold and would discuss with the locals on the alternative place for the temple.

Sanyasi Rao said the temple was built by the villagers of Achyimmapeta village, which has been shifted to Gokul Theatre area, after the railway station was constructed.

The endowment department took over the temple in 2007 as there was ever increasing rush of devotees and regular contributions.

The temple earns Rs 3.5 lakh per month and will spend on annadanam and other religious works.

Annual festival is held every year in May during which lakhs of devotees visit.

“Yernimamba is also popular Goddess among the eunuchs, who worship every Tuesday,” Sanyasi Rao said.