Hans News Service Khammam

BharatiyaJanata Party (BJP) district president Nelluri Koteswara Rao urged the government to appoint a regular Executive Officer (EO) for the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple at Jamalapuram.

Rao visited the temple on Friday and offered special prayers. Expressing concern over the temple’s administration, he said it was unfortunate that the prominent pilgrimage centre continued to function without a full-time Executive Officer.

He also sought the allocation of special funds for infrastructure development and other facilities at the temple. The BJP leader called upon the Endowments Department to ensure that the temple’s traditions and Agama practices were protected and that no activities contrary to established customs were permitted.

He also demanded the closure of alleged illegal liquor belt shops operating in and around the temple precincts and nearby villages, stating that such activities were detrimental to the spiritual atmosphere of the pilgrimage centre. Several BJP leaders, including mandal president Anumolu Suresh, district SIR convenor Shyam Rao, mandal in-charge Shyam Kiran, senior leader Nuthakki Narasimha Rao, Shakti Kendra in-charges, BLAs and party workers, participated in the programme.