Andhra Pradesh Sanctions Rs 618.70 Crore for Restoration of 499 Temples

NELLORE: Andhra Pradesh has approved Rs 618.70 crore from the Common Good Fund for renovation, restoration and reconstruction work at 499 temples across 28 districts, one of the state's largest current programmes aimed at upgrading religious institutions and preserving older shrines.

The Rs 618.70-crore package represents the first phase of a wider temple-development initiative, Endowments Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy said. Nandyal received the largest allocation in the first phase, with Rs 102.70 crore for 55 temples, followed by Chittoor with Rs 60.66 crore for 25 temples.

Anam Ramanarayana Reddy

The programme extends across coastal Andhra, Rayalaseema and northern Andhra Pradesh, making it considerably broader than the individual monument-restoration projects underway elsewhere in the state. The allocations vary substantially by district, with West Godavari receiving Rs 35.70 crore for 35 temples and Guntur Rs 47.64 crore for 29 temples.

The Common Good Fund is established under Section 70 of the Andhra Pradesh Charitable and Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowments Act, 1987. The statute permits the fund to be used for renovation, preservation and maintenance of religious institutions in needy circumstances.

The statewide programme encompasses different categories of work including preservation of historic temples, reconstruction of damaged structures, repairs and improvements to infrastructure for devotees. That means it would be inaccurate to describe all 499 projects as archaeological conservation.

The Rs 618.70-crore first phase forms part of a still larger initiative. Ramanarayana Reddy said the government had sanctioned approximately Rs 832 crore for renovation and reconstruction involving about 706 temples statewide.

For Telugu Americans, the scale of the programme is especially relevant because many of the temples receiving funds are local and regional shrines outside Andhra Pradesh's best-known pilgrimage circuit. The heritage value of those sites means successful restoration should be measured by more than new construction.