Seers express concern over encroachment of endowment lands

Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh DharmikaMandali, seers and swamijis have decided to intensify efforts to protect and take back 30,000 acres of endowment lands from the clutches of encroachers in the State. They attended aMandali meeting arranged in a private function hall in Vijayawada on Sunday.

The participants discussed how to protect and get back these encroached lands in the state. SitharamYatendra Guru Devi of Jana MahaPeetam expressed concern over the illegal encroachment of lands belonging to endowment department and various temples. He said many temples are not in a position to meet day- to- day expenses due to lack of income and Trust boards were also not in a position to develop the temples.

He underlined the need to create a mechanism to get back these encroached lands and sought the co-operation of the government and people. He suggested the seers and priests to conduct spiritual events to generate revenue and try to increase hundi collections by enhancing the spiritual and cultural activities.

Andhra Pradesh DharmikaMandali convener Velagapudi Ramakrishna informed that the Mandali is trying to create awareness on the encroachments and efforts being made to get back the lands. He said district and mandal level committees will be formed very soon in the State to create awareness to protect the lands. A tour will be conducted in the state in this regard, he added.