Tirumala: In a significant development aimed at enhancing the spiritual aura of deity of Kaliyuga, Sri Venkateswara Swamy in the North Eastern parts of India, the Assam Government has decided to allocate land to the extent of 25 acres at Guwahati towards the construction of Sri Venkateswara Swamy Divya Kshetram instead of 10.8 acres as decided earlier.
This significant decision to enhance the extent of land allotment comes in the wake of a correspondence between the Chief Ministers of Assam and Andhra Pradesh.
According to Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams Trust Board Chairmam BR Naidu, the Assam Govt. had earlier accorded consent for the allotment of 10.8 acres of land at Kamrup metropolitan district near Guwahati.
However, on December 7, the Additional Chief Secretary to Assam CM, KK Dwivedi addressed a letter to the TTD chairman BR Naidu, drawing his attention to the concerns of the administrators of an existing Sri Balaji temple and cultural complex at Garchuk in Guwahati, that if the TTD establishes a Sri Venkateswara temple at Kamrup metropolitan district, it would adversely affect the interests of the existing temple.
The Additional Chief Secretary to the Assam CM asked the TTD chairman to consider establishing Sri Venkateswara temple either at Silchar or Dibrugarh-two fastest growing cities in Assam.
When TTD Chairman BR Naidu took up the matter to the notice of CM of AP N Chandrababu Naidu, the AP CM addressed a letter to his Assam counterpart Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma on December 18, the commitment of Andhra Pradesh Govt. and the TTD in spearheading the propagation of the Hindu Sanatana Dharma and the glory of Sri Venkateswara by establishing at least one temple in every state and union territory of the country.
Pointing out to the Assam CM that the Andhra Pradesh govt had allocated 25 acres of land at the new capital city Amaravati to establish Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple, the AP CM urged his Assam counterpart to consider allocating 25 acres of land to the TTD at it’s capital Guwahati itself instead of at Silchar or Dibrugarh.
Temples of North-east
“Since Guwahati is an important hub for the entire Northeast, I recommend increasing the land under consideration to about 25 acres to establish a Divyakshetram along with various pilgrim amenities and religious activities including Annadanam on a regular basis. I also seek the Assam Govt. to consider extending financial support for grounding various development activities in the land proposed to be allotted”, the AP CM stated in his letter addressed to the Assam CM.
Responding positively to the recommendations of the Andhra Pradesh CM, the Assam CM had accorded in-principle the approval to allocate 25 acres of land to the TTD at Guwahati itself and has also agreed to extend necessary financial support for undertaking development activities at the proposed site”.
TTD Chairman BR Naidu extended his thanks to both the CMs of AP and Assam for resolving the issue amicably and reassured that the TTD Trust board will coordinate with the Assam govt. to complete the land allocation exercise related formalities and initiate the construction works of the first temple dedicated to Sri Venkateswara Swamy in Northeast India very soon.
