Mohan Kuthar

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Mar 15: The historic Someshwara Sri Somanatha Temple in Ullal taluk is facing a shortage of land for tourism, cattle shelter, and other developmental activities. In this regard, the Sanatana Dharma Jagruti Committee of Kotekar submitted a formal request to MP Brijesh Chowta and additional deputy commissioner Dr G Santosh Kumar on Saturday, urging the transfer of 3 acres and 66 cents of government land under the jurisdiction of the railway department to the temple.

The temple authorities plan to undertake tourism projects, construct a cattle shelter, and implement other developmental works under the Prasad Scheme. However, the lack of available land has become a major hurdle. The requested land includes 1 acre and 35 cents under Survey No. 74/12A and 2 acres and 31 cents under Survey No. 206/5C, both currently held by the railway department. The land was originally allocated over 75 years ago for quarrying gravel for the railway department, but this permission was revoked more than 35 years ago. Given the current land shortage for temple development, the committee has appealed for the cancellation of the railway department's landholding and its reallocation to the temple.

The Someshwara Temple is located in a scenic coastal region featuring a vast Rudrapada, the Somanatha Temple built on a rock, and the sacred ‘Gadha Tirtha’ pond. The Sanatana Dharma Jagruti Committee has also submitted a written request to the MP and ADC, urging them to include the temple in the central government’s Prasad Scheme and Swadesh Darshan tourism project.

The delegation that submitted the request included Ramesh Kolya (president), Surendran P Beeri (vice president), Ganesh Kolya (treasurer), Krishna Raj K R (general secretary), Jayant Sankolige (joint secretary), and members Krishna Shetty Tamar, Raghavendra Master, Pavitra Gatti, Raghavan Beeri, Padmanabha Gatti, Krishna B M, Revathi teacher, Pradeep Chandra Shetty Adkaguttu, and Vasanth Ullal.