Karimnagar, February 22: Despite stiff resistance from public, officials are being forced to lease out land around temples and historical places to mining contractors in Karimnagar district. And the reasons are obvious.
Recently, about 17 applications were received from granite contractors seeking permission for mining around Kondagattu, the abode of Lord Hanuman.
Of the 300 acres government land in survey number, 25 acres belong to Kondagattu temple.
Bowing to pressure from power circles, officials reportedly are mulling to accord permission for granite excavations at Kondagattu.
According to sources, a leader of the ruling party reportedly secured ‘no objection’ certificate for granite excavation in survey number 575 at Majeed Gutta, beside Kondagattu temple.
The remaining applications are under scrutiny.
Telangana Bhumi Rakshana Sangham, an NGO launched recently to protect Karimnagar town from mining mafia, raised objection stating that quarrying temple hills would hurt feelings of lakhs of devotees.
However, Jagtial RDO Amay Kumar refused to talk on the issue when this correspondent contacted him.
About two months ago, mining contractors set their eyes on Bommallammagutta in Gangadhara mandal, a historical place for Jains with 1000-year-old tradition.
However, officials withdrew from according permission to mining at the place following protests from NGOs and villagers. Now, it is a protected monument.
Similarly, the T-Bhumi Rakshana Sangham also sought protection of lands of other temples including Venkateswara Swamy at Annaram, Lakshminarasimha Swamy in Nandagiri and Peddyadevunigutta at Kamanpur.
Even locals of the places are also against granite excavations in the villages.
–Agencies