Hyderabad: After forest official’s brought down a newly constructed structure at a place of worship in Bhadradri-Kothagudem district, locals held a protest yesterday demanding reconstruction of the structure. They also submitted a petition to the district Joint Collector.
The protesters denied allegation made by the forest department that the temple was built illegally on reserve forestland. However, PTI quoted a senior forest official as saying that they had not touched the place of worship and some houses abutting it, but just the new structure that was built around 50 feet away.
The official was further quoted as saying that the locals wanted to build a commercial building owing to the value of the place, which was located near the national highway.
According to a media report, locals had made attempts to build a new structure in the area, but was foiled by the forest department in February this year. But eight pillars with a roof was constructed overnight on Wednesday. The forest officials along with district administration officials demolished the structure yesterday.