In a major decision the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) resolved to shoulder the responsibility of administering the ancient temple of Lord Kodandarama Swamy at Ontimitta in Kadapa.
Briefing the media, after a daylong meeting here on Tuesday, TTD Chairman C. Krishnamurthy said the board resolved to bring the ancient temple under its fold.
The board, Mr. Murthy said, also took cognizance of the income of Rs. 19.39 crore earned through the online sale of over 16,200 kilograms of human hair and also appreciated the decision of the management to purchase 15,300 quintals of rice sufficient to meet its requirements for three months at a subsidised price of Rs.36.50 per kilogram from the rice millers of both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
The decision helped the board save Rs.22.95 lakh.
Financial sanction
The meeting also approved a financial sanction of Rs. 59 lakh for providing silver covering to all the Peethams at the Govindaraja Swamy temple at Tirupati. About 128 kilograms of silver was estimated to be used for the project.
Renovation works
The board also gave its nod to take up renovation works at the Venkateswara temple in Eluru involving an expenditure of Rs.28 lakh.
The board, besides authorising the Indian Oil Corporation to run its outlet atop the town for the next three years on a monthly rental basis, resolved to enhance the rent of the Surapuram Thota cottages to Rs.1,500 from the existing Rs.750 for each suite. The Pilgrim Compensatory Allowance being provided to the TTD employees was also enhanced by another Rs.1,000.
