Kanaka Durga temple in Andhra Pradesh gets new trust board

VIJAYAWADA: The state government constituted a new non-hereditary trust board at Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanams (Kanaka Durga temple) on Tuesday, nearly a year after the term of the previous trust board ended.

The formation of the trust board gains significance following a host of allegations from various quarters over ticket price hike, corruption, poor implementation of Agama Shastra by temple authorities, etc.

Kanaka Durga temple is the second largest temple in the state after Tirumala.

It is the wish of many to become trust board members of the temple as they can wield considerable influence and are also involved in the development works of the temple. There is huge competition between leaders of all parties, including YSRCP, to find a place in the trust board.

The state endowments ministry is said to have constituted a trust board before Dasara in October 2022. But the proposal was kept aside. The temple authorities also came under fire for their "one-sided decision" to increase the Antara Alaya darshan ticket price to 500 and limiting the distribution of anna danam (free food) to devotees.

Priority has been given to local leaders in the new 15-member trust board. All the members - Karnati Rambabu, Kesari Nagamani, Katta Sathiah, Budda Rambabu, Devisetty Balakrishna, Chinta Simhachalam, Batchu Madhavi Krishna, Anumolu Udhaya Lakshmi, Nidamanuri Kalyani, Namboori Ravi, Chinka Srinivasa Rao, Kolakaluri Rama Sita, Maram Venkateswara Rao, Alluri Krishnaveni and Toddadi Veda Kumari - of the trust board took oath on Tuesday. Rambabu was appointed chairman of the board. The trust board members will hold office for two years from the date of taking oath.


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