Jammu set to have Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple soon

JAMMU — Jammu, the winter capital of the Union Territory, will soon have Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple while the administration kick-started the arrangement for its grand Bhoomi Poojan, scheduled to be held on June 13.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Jammu, Anshul Garg issued an order regarding ‘Foundation Stone Laying/Bhoomi Pooja of Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple at Majeen, Jammu’ and appointed Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) as nodal officers to oversee the arrangements.

“Ghansham Singh, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Law & Order) Jammu has been designated as Nodal Officer to Co-ordinate, Oversee and Monitor the arrangements that are to be put in place for the foundation stone laying/Bhoomi Pooja ceremony of Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple by Tirumla Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) at Majeen Jammu on June 13,” the order reads.

A senior officer of rank Deputy Director of Floriculture has been directed to arrange two Banana trees and Mango leaves for Pooja in addition to flower pots and floral arrangements.

Superintending Engineer, PWD (R&B) has been directed to construct an approach road to the proposed site in Majeen from Jammu-Srinagar national highway and make arrangements for 20 VVIP’s vehicles and 80 vehicles capacity general parking in coordination with Senior Superintendent of Police Traffic, Jammu.

Other government agencies were also directed to set us sheds/Shamyanas name plaque, VIP toilets and toilets for general public, sign and directional boards, drinking water and refreshment for general public.

Pertinently, Jammu and Kashmir administration has allotted over 496 kanals of land on lease for 40 years to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) for building a temple and allied infrastructure.

An official spokesman said the Administrative Council (AC), headed by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha approved the proposal to allot 496 kanals and 17 marlas of land to the TTD for building a temple and its allied infrastructure, pilgrim amenities complex, vedapatasala, spiritual/meditation centre, office, residential quarters and parking.

The order issued by the Principal Secretary to the Government, Revenue Department stated the land is granted on payment of nominal ground rent of Rs 10 per kanal per annum without charge of any premium subject to the condition that the land would be used only for the purpose for which it is granted.

The land, he said, would be allotted to the TTD on lease basis for a period of 40 years.

TTD, which is headquartered at Tirupati, is an independent trust which manages temples including the Tirumala Venkateswara temple in Andhra Pradesh.