A promise yet to get off the blocks

​Kaleshwaram: It’s been around eight months since the State government has announced Rs 25 crore for the development of Kaleshwara Mukteeshwara Swamy temple, on the lines of Yadadri, however, the proposals yet to get off the blocks.

Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, who was here to lay the foundation stone for the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP) on May 2 last year, has also promised to develop Kaleshwaram temple, a unique shrine where two Shiva Lingas are found on a single pedestal located on the banks of the confluence of rivers Godavari, Pranahita and Saraswathi. He then instructed the authorities to prepare a master plan that suffices the needs of next 50 years.

Besides augmenting facilities at the temple, the government also promised to develop eco-tourism between Mahadevapur and Kaleshwaram on par with international standards. Among other plans – 100-ft road between temple and river, spacious parking, mini tank bund along the Yamagundam, Annadana satram, Veda school, tree-house resort and a VIP guest house.

A month later, the Advisor to Government of Telangana KV Ramana Chary, who inspected the temple, said that a comprehensive plan is on the anvil to tap the potential of the shrine that also attracts huge number of pilgrims from the other side of the Godavari, Sironcha in Maharashtra.

Speaking to The Hans India, the temple Executive Officer Devaraj Hariprakash Rao said: “The temple authority has sent estimations of the proposed works for the development of the shrine to the State government. We are expecting approval within a short time from the government.”

He said that Maharashtra government has agreed to give Rs 15 crore with which we have plans to construct a 100-room choultry and a pilgrim amenity shed like the one at Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams.

“With the high-level bridge across Godavari that connects people on either side of the river, especially those Telugus living in Sironcha region, was already thrown open, the day is not far away for Kaleshwaram to develop into a tourist hub besides an increase in pilgrim footfall,” Anthari Prakash, a local BJP leader, said, demanding the government to expedite the temple development process.

Meanwhile, there is a gradual increase in the income of the temple for the last few years. Currently, the income of the temple stands at around an assessable income of Rs 3.86 crore. This apart, temple gets an income of nearly Rs 25 lakh.