In a significant move to resolve a brewing controversy, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has directed officials to allow the Visakha Sharada Peetham to retain its allotted land in Kokapet. The dispute began when the government initially decided to reallocate the land to the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) for reservoir construction. However, following protests from devotees and political friction, the CM intervened to cancel the water board’s allotment, ensuring the spiritual institution keeps the site.
The Chief Minister expressed serious dissatisfaction with officials for failing to provide a complete picture of the site’s status. He questioned why he wasn’t informed earlier that construction was already underway at the Raja Shyamala Devi Temple premises. Recognizing that the registration process for the Peetham was already completed in 2019 under the previous government, the CM emphasized that their legal rights must be respected. He further noted that the decision was made to honor public sentiments and maintain transparency in governance.
The issue had quickly turned into a political battlefield, with BRS leader Harish Rao visiting the site and condemning the government’s initial attempt to reclaim the land. Although the Congress government had reportedly offered an alternative site in Shamshabad, the Peetham management insisted on staying at the Kokapet location. With the CM’s latest orders, the tension has subsided, and officials have now been tasked with finding an alternative location for the HMWSSB reservoir project elsewhere.
