The Veerabhadra Swamy temple in the Old City of Hyderabad is facing issues with land grabbing. The neglected temple, which is not frequently visited, has been encroached upon by land grabbers. Efforts are being made to encroach upon the foreyard of the temple, blocking entry for devotees.
BJP leader Yamuna Pathak highlighted that a large extent of the temple’s backyard and sides have already been encroached upon, with constructions taking place. Devotees are concerned that if the foreyard is also encroached, there will be no way for them to enter the temple. Despite efforts to protect the temple, individuals trying to intervene are allegedly warned not to interfere by local police.
The State Endowments Department, responsible for overseeing temple lands, has a poor track record according to reports by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). The department has been criticized for not ensuring proper documentation and verification of temple lands. PPBs, essential documents for land ownership, are missing for a significant portion of temple lands in Telangana.
The Endowments Commissioner has not obtained PPBs for a large portion of Endowments land, leading to credibility issues for the department. Executive officers in charge of temple lands have been found to be negligent in obtaining PPBs, despite the land being in their possession. The lack of proper documentation and verification processes has left temple lands vulnerable to encroachment and disputes.
