GOVERNMENT OF ANDHRA PRADESH
ABSTRACT
Haphazard
growth of major Hill Shrines – Need for regulation - Orders issued – Regarding.
REVENUE (ENDTS.II) DEPARTMENT
G.O.Ms.No.291 Date: 07.08.2015
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ORDER:
Andhra Pradesh has
several Hindu Hill Shrines which are well known all over the country. Some of them are Srisailam, Simhachalam,
Annavaram, Kanaka Durga and Dwaraka Tirumala.
2)
On account of rapid influx of pilgrims,
Tirumala was in an expansion mode for nearly four decades. There were a outcry in the media as well as
public that Tirumala was gradually becoming a concrete jungle. On account of a public interest litigation,
the High Court banned further constructions in Tirumala. This experience in Tirumala has to noted by
all other temples administrators.
3)
During their recent visits, the Minister
(Endowments), Principal Secretary (Endowments) and Commissioner (Endowments),
have all found that large scale constructions are slowly but surely coming up
on top of these Hill Shrines thereby spoiling the serene atmosphere. Huge multi-storied buildings have already
been constructed close to the temples on the hill top. These structures have dwarfed those historic
temples. This is neither good from a
heritage point of view nor from an aesthetic point of view. Hence, it is proposed to impose a ban on indiscriminate
construction on hill top shrines. Construction of the following types of
buildings on top of the hills is completely banned:
A)
Administrative buildings.
B)
Choultries.
C)
Pilgrim amenity complexes.
D)
Guest Houses.
E)
Shopping complexes.
F)
Hospitals, Dispensaries, Schools or Colleges.
G)
Any other construction activity which is
unrelated to religious activities of the temple.
4)
However, the
following will be permitted on case by case basis.
A)
Construction of Annadana Satram.
B)
Construction of Veda / Agama Patasala.
C)
Queue lines or queue complexes.
D)
Drinking water reservoirs.
E)
Toilet and other sanitation facilities.
F)
Vrata Mandapams, Yagasalas or any structure
where rituals take place.
5)
Also the following instructions are issued
for strict compliance by all Executive Officers and Commissioner of
Endowments.
A)
No
Executive Officer shall execute any new work without prior approval of the
Commissioner and the Government in these 7 temples. The Commissioner shall ensure that there is a
strict compliance to the orders of the Government.
B)
Trees shall not be cut on top of the
hill. They should be carefully preserved
and nurtured. If it is inevitable, with prior permission, they shall be
transplanted and alternately 10 plants have to be freshly planted to compensate
for the loss of a tree.
C)
Pilgrim amenity complexes, Choultries,
Kalyana Mandapams and guest houses should be constructed down hill to provide
better facilities to pilgrims.
D)
If sufficient land is not available down hill
the required minimum land shall be acquired.
E)
Free bus service may be provided between down
hill and uphill for the benefit of poor
pilgrims.
F)
Pilgrims should be encouraged to chant the
name of the Lord and climb steps to reach the hill top. This will improve the physical fitness of
devotees besides increasing their devotion.
G)
The Executive Officer shall undertake massive
afforestation and water shed programmes to increase the flora and fauna on the
hills. They shall also undertake landscaping activities extensively on top of
the hills to beautify the temple surroundings.
(BY ORDER AND IN THE NAME OF THE
GOVERNOR OF ANDHRA PRADESH)
H)
J.S.V. PRASAD
PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO
GOVERNMENT
To
The Commissioner of Endowments, AP Hyderabad.
The All Executive Officers, Endowments Dept through CED.
The All Regional Joint Commissioners of Endowments
Department.
The All District Collectors of Andhra Pradesh.
// FORWARDED :: BY ORDER //
SECTION OFFICER
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