Hyderabad: Deputy chief minister Bhatti Vikramarka on Saturday said the Congress govt has allocated ₹2,216 crore for the development and upgradation of various temples in the state.Another ₹1,000 crore has been sanctioned for the Godavari Pushkaralu, he said after laying the foundation stone for the development of the Guddemgutta Sri Satyanarayana Swamy Temple in the Mancherial assembly constituency.Stating that the Congress govt is giving top priority to the development of education, healthcare and spirituality, Bhatti said the issue of developing the Guddemgutta temple was raised during a public meeting held at Pippiri to mark the third anniversary of the completion of his ‘People’s March’ (padayatra).“The sanctioning of funds within just 37 days of that meeting and the performing of the groundbreaking ceremony today reflect the efficiency and commitment of the people’s (Congress) govt. The Guddemgutta Sri Satyanarayana Swamy Temple will be transformed into a magnificent spiritual destination with an investment of nearly ₹70 crore,” he said.The Congress govt is firmly committed to both temple development and public welfare in Telangana. He highlighted the revolutionary decisions taken by the govt over the last two and a half years for the advancement of spiritual and social sectors across the state.The deputy CM said the govt is paying special attention to the development of temples located along the Godavari river basin. As part of this initiative, ₹802 crore has been allocated for the development and beautification of pilgrimage centres stretching from Basara to Bhadrachalam. “The govt is responding to the aspirations and faith of the people by making substantial investments in spiritual infrastructure,” he said.Alongside promoting spirituality, the govt is equally focused on strengthening agriculture, which is the primary livelihood of people in the region. In this regard, he announced that ₹74 crore has been allocated for a lift irrigation project in the Guddemgutta area.
