Vijayawada: In a setback to Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation ( APTDC ), the high court on Friday asked it to pay the lease amount to Arasavelli Suryanarayana Swamy temple in Srikakulam district for the convention hall constructed in the temple’s premises.Disposing of a PIL petition filed by Raghupatruni Chiranjeevi and Telugu Appala Suryanarayana on the issue, the HC said the APTDC violated the lease agreement. The temple has given 1.48 acres of land on lease to APTDC for the construction of a budget hotel and restaurant. The APTDC, in turn, gave a sub-lease to one M/s Picket & Bhaskar Hotels Pvt Ltd for the maintenance of the facility. Later, a function hall was constructed by the APTDC in the same premises and maintenance charge was given to same firm. Challenging the decision of APTDC, the petitioners moved a PIL in the high court.Naidana Sravan Kumar, the counsel for the petitioners, said the APTDC violated the lease norms and constructed a function hall for commercial reasons, causing financial loss to the temple. The high court ordered that the APTDC should pay the additional lease amount to the temple for function hall as demolition of the illegal construction will also cause loss to the APTDC which is state government corporation. The high court directed the roads and buildings department to decide the lease amount to be paid to the temple.

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