The demolition of a guest house near the renowned ‘Padagaya Kshetram’ in Pithapuram on Sunday evening ahead of the Godavari Pushkarams has sparked a controversy, with officials of the Endowments Department failing to cite the reasons behind the move.
The guest house was recently renovated by donors who spent nearly Rs. 30 lakh on it. As many as 19 air-conditioned rooms were built and facilities like television sets were provided. The total value of the building is said to be around Rs. 1 crore, and the temple has been earning Rs. 8 lakh to Rs. 12 lakh per annum towards room rentals. However, officials of the Endowments Department, accompanied by the local elected representatives and police, took up the demolition of the building on Sunday evening and finished the task by late in the night.
“Based on oral instructions from higher-ups, we have demolished the building, as it is against the temple’s ‘vaastu’. Plans are afoot to construct similar building near the site using government funds and retain the names of the donors in the new building,” D. Bhramaramba, Deputy Commissioner of Endowments, said. She maintained that the sudden demolition was owing to objection from some donors and added that construction works would commence in two months from now. “The donors have no information about the demolition. Such acts not only hurt the sentiments of donors but also affect future donations,” said Vadrevu Srinivasa Rao, president of Datta Sai Seva Samithi, the organisation involved in several development works at Padagaya Kshetram including the renovation of the guest house. “If the construction is against vaastu, how could the temple architect accord permission for its construction? We wonder why they demolished the entire building, when there is no problem with the ground floor,” he added.
Revenue-earning structure demolished on oral instructions owing to ‘vaastu’, say officials
