Foundation Minister V. Srinivas Rao held a bhumi puja and a foundation stone laying ceremony on Wednesday for the reconstruction of the Kanipakam temple near Chittoor. It is the third prominent temple in the Chittoor district after Tirumala and Srikalahasti.
The minister said that the reconstruction of the temple of Vinayaka Chathurthi would be completed next year while the work on the golden chariot was under way and would be completed at the earliest.
He affirmed that the state government is committed to protecting the sanctity of Hindu temples and the interests of its devotees.
Previously, the Minister attended the special rituals together with Deputy Prime Minister K. Narayanaswamy, Panchayat Raj Minister P. Ramachandra Reddy, before the reconstruction work began. on the temple grounds in strict compliance with the COVID guidelines. Puthalapattu MLA MS Babu and senior officials from the Department and Mandate officials from Puthalapattu, Irala and Tavanampalle were present.