The Telangana government has brought into force new system to protect temple lands from encroachments. All the lands possessed by the Temple trusts are being transferred in the name of presiding deities in the respective temples in the state. State Endowment department in coordination with Revenue and Registration departments began the exercise recently.
The official records says nearly one lack acres of land has been registered in the name of temple trusts and managements in all 10 districts of the state. About 10,000 acres of land was encroached upon in the last five decades in the state. Nearly 12,500 temples were being maintained by the endowment department.
All the trusts, societies and individuals guarding the temple lands have been asked to surrender the land pattas registered in their names to the Endowments department. The concerned Temple administration officials would sign on the registration documents on behalf of the deities. This would help to stop transferring of lands to others permanently.The government has taken the new initiative not only to protect the lands from encroachments but also proper utilization of the valuable lands for the development of local areas. It also help the officials to fight against encroachments in the courts.