Christmas is here, but not Bhavan

The proposal runs into legal hassles as Vadderas move High Court claiming the ownership of the land earmarked for the building

Hyderabad: The proposed Christian Bhavan, for which CM K Chandrashekar Rao laid the foundation stone amid much hype and hoopla last year, has run into rough weather as a local organisation challenged the government decision at the court.

It may be recalled that the government had decided to construct the Christian Bhavan at Mahendra Hills in Secunderabad at an estimated cost of Rs 10 crore on the eve of 2014 Christmas.

However, a local outfit, the Vaddera Cooperative Federation, filed a case in the High Court against the government decision.

According to sources, a member of the federation - G Papaiah - filed a case before the High Court claiming that the land belonged to the federation. Consequently, the High Court issued a stay order.

The Chief Minister, while announcing the construction of the building, had said that the 2015 Christmas celebrations would be performed in the new building. He had even approved the design for construction of the Christian Bhavan and directed the officials to take up the works.

It was proposed to have an auditorium, dining halls and parks on the two-acre campus. Interestingly, even the foundation stone plaque of the Christian Bhavan, laid by the Chief Minister himself, went missing on August 2015.

Chandrashekar Rao had also promised to constitute a Christians Unity Board on par with the Haj Committee which is yet to be materialised.

An official of the department said that a proposal had been submitted regarding the board with Rs 2-crore budget, but the government directed the officials to send a revised proposal.

Speaking to The Hans India, V Victor, Managing Director, Telangana State Christian Minorities Finance Corporation, said the works of the Christian Bhavan would begin only after the court vacated the stay order.

By:V Naveen Kumar