A proposed plan to relocate a Hanuman temple near Sunnam Cheruvu lake in Hyderabad has ignited a serious conflict between the Hyderabad Urban Development Authority (HYDRAA) and local residents. The dispute centers around differing claims about community consultation and approval for the temple's movement as part of lake restoration efforts.
The Contradictory Claims
On November 22, HYDRAA issued an official statement asserting that local residents had agreed to shift the temple to enable comprehensive restoration work at Sunnam Cheruvu, which is among six lakes selected for rehabilitation. However, the Maruthi Hills Colony Welfare Association immediately challenged this assertion.
The welfare association responded on November 23 with a written note categorically refuting HYDRAA's claims. They described the agency's statement as false and misleading, emphasizing that residents were never properly consulted about the temple relocation plans.
Residents Demand Retraction
In their strongly worded response, the association detailed that local community members were never contacted, invited, or informed about any meetings concerning the temple's relocation. The organization demanded that HYDRAA either withdraw or correct its original statement, stating that using their name in official communications without prior consultation was completely unacceptable.
The association's note made clear their position that proper democratic processes had been bypassed, leaving residents feeling excluded from decisions affecting their community and religious spaces.
HYDRAA's Counter-Argument
HYDRAA Commissioner A V Ranganath provided the agency's perspective on the controversy. He clarified that HYDRAA had not specifically mentioned the welfare association in their original statement. Ranganath characterized association members as vacant plot owners rather than local residents living in the immediate vicinity of Sunnam Cheruvu.
The commissioner explained that a meeting was conducted with local temple representatives and temple management members who actually reside near the lake. According to Ranganath, these groups collectively agreed to relocate both the Hanuman temple and a nearby chilla as part of the comprehensive restoration plan for Sunnam Cheruvu.
This disagreement highlights the challenges urban development authorities face when balancing infrastructure projects with community engagement and religious sentiments. The outcome of this dispute could set important precedents for future development projects involving places of worship in Hyderabad.
