Former Endowments Minister Mr Gade Venkatareddy accused the central archeological department of neglecting the age old structures in its jurisdiction.

Addressing a press conference in Hyderabad this afternoon, Venkatareddy said most of the temple structures in the state are being looked after by the archeological department. “The department is not taking care of them. Because of its sheer negligence, the Galigopuram of the Bhavannarayana Swamy temple in Bapatla has caved in,” he said.

“If the department doesn’t take proper care of the temple structures in its jurisdiction, same fate will befall the other structures too,” he said. The former minister has demanded the Government to confiscate all temple lands illegally occupied by land grabbers.

Dwajastambhams collapse in two temples

Two days after the collapse of the Galigopuram of the Bhavannarayana Swamy temple in Bapatla, Dwajastambhams in two temples of Guntur and Krishna districts collapsed today raising questions over the maintenance and caring of the temple structures in the state.

Dwajastambhams of the Chintalamma temple in Kolluru village of Guntur district and the Venugopala Swamy temple of Vellaturu of G. Konduru Mandalam in Krishna district have collapsed this morning sending shocks to the villagers.