Auction of temple land postponed

Simhachalam (Vizag), Oct. 9: The state government has postponed the auction of the Simhachalam temple lands indefinitely following a letter from the district collector, Mr J. Shyamala Rao, who stated that there could be law and order problems if the lands are auctioned.

Following the recommendations of a five-member committee that comprised the endowments commissioner, Mr J.S.V. Prasad, the collector, Mr Shyamala Rao, the VUDA vice-chairman, Mr B. Sreedhar, and the executive officer of the Simhachalam temple, Mr C. Premkumar, the endowments department had decided to auction 2,500 acres of temple land.

However, an all-party committee was formed and it agitated against the government’s decision to auction the temple lands. Some irate leaders had even attacked Mr Premkumar during a protest rally.

A five-member committee will now study all the issues and will submit a report to the government.