AP to urge Centre to allocate 2,000 hectare for Srisailam

Amaravati: The Andhra Pradesh government has urged the Union government to allocate 2,000 hectares of forest land for the development of Sri Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple in Srisailam, government officials said on Sunday. The temple's development will be discussed with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is scheduled to visit Srisailam on October 16. The decisions were taken on Sunday at a review meeting conducted by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu with Endowment Department officials to prepare plans for developing the temple. He directed the officials to prepare a comprehensive master plan. The Chief Minister asked the Endowment and Forest Department officials' plans to provide better facilities to lakhs of devotees, who visit the temple every year.

Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, Endowments Minister Anam Rama Narayana Reddy, and senior officials of the Endowments and Forest Departments attended the review meeting. Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu suggested that action be taken to develop the Srisailam temple on the lines of the Tirupati temple in Tirumala. He said that in the context of a large number of devotees coming to this temple from different states across the country, including Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Telangana, facilities should be provided to them.