Centuries-Old Shiva Temple Faces Uncertain Future After Relocation
Inupamula village in Nalgonda district recently witnessed an unfortunate clash between its ancient heritage and modern development. A centuries-old Shiva temple, built during the Kakatiya era, was removed to make way for the Hyderabad-Vijayawada National Highway expansion. The temple was supposed to be relocated to Mallanna Gutta hill, but the reconstruction project remains incomplete due to a lack of funding.
During the Dasara festival in 2023, former minister Jagadishwar Reddy and local MLA Chirumarthi Lingaiah performed a grand homam and laid the foundation stone for rebuilding the temple. Despite these ceremonies and promises, no funds were allocated in that year’s budget, leaving the project stalled.
Frustrated by the lack of progress, villagers and devotees demanded action. In response, the government approved Rs. 5 crore under SDF (Special Development Funds) and issued administrative orders. However, the funds were never released, which prevented the Endowments Department from moving forward with construction tenders.
Adding to the devotees’ disappointment, pieces of the original temple, including intricate carvings from the Kakatiya era, were carelessly discarded near Mallanna Gutta. This neglect sparked outrage among locals, who insisted that these historically significant artifacts should be incorporated into the new temple’s design.
Although a contractor completed a CC road worth Rs. 1.5 crore leading to the proposed temple site, reports suggest that the contractor has not yet been paid. The villagers continue to express their concerns, urging authorities to preserve their cultural heritage and fulfill their promises to complete the temple reconstruction.
