The mining mafia in Kurnool district has become rampant and crores of rupees are being made by illegal mining, hereby causing revenue deficit to the exchequer. Locals are concerned over the damage being done to the historic temple. The damage to the Yaganti temple as a result of anarchic mining has become a topic of discussion.
Yaganti Sri Uma Maheshwara Temple, a famous Shaiva shrine located in the Yerramalla forest of the Banaganapalle mandal of Kurnool District, is visited daily by a large number of devotees not only from the two Telugu states but also from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The temple is currently caught up in the clutches of the illegal mining mafia. The white stone ore deposits on the rooftop of the Basavayya Mandapam were shattered by explosives used by the mining mafia in excess doses in the vicinity of the temple. Cracks were visible on the walls of the temple. Devotees and the temple officials who observed the cracks complained to the mining authorities and they fixed jacks with iron pipes on a war footing.
Devotees and villagers around the temple have complained to the mining authorities in the past but no action was taken.
The first thing that comes to mind when you talk of Yaganti is the Basavanna idol of Sri Uma Maheshwara Swamy Temple in Yaganti. Potuluri Veera Brahmendra Swamy says in his book that the idol of Yaganti Basavanna grows so much till the end of Kaliyuga.
Yaganti Shrine is located in the Yerramala Hills in the vicinity of Banaganapalle in Kurnool District. These hills are home to some of the most valuable white stone ore deposits. The eyes of the illegal persons fell on the mineral deposits around the temple. At the same time, politicians are using large-scale explosives in the vicinity of the temple and taking up illegal mining. As a result, many structures in the temple have cracked. Part of the Sri Venkateswara cave in the vicinity of the temple collapsed and closed due to previous blasts. The main facade of the temple was also cracked.
In response to this, Mining officials said that nearly a dozen mining companies were involved in illegal mining in the previous government were suspended and said that they would definitely take action under the Mining Act if there is any illegal mining mafia involved in the excavations now taking place without their knowledge.
The villagers around the Yaganti temple are openly stating that they were committing illegal mining with the support of the ruling party leaders. Local TDP leaders and Hindus have criticized the YSRCP government for not showing the same love they show for Christianity. During the BJP agitation in Antarvedi, the windows of a church were broken and the government has registered cases against many people. They are questioning the silence of the government at a time when illegal mining posed a threat to the existence of the Yaganti temple itself.
Even if the government opens its eyes now and takes the right steps it can generate crores of rupees as revenue from the mines through royalties.
