The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) management has taken up the issue of shortage of drinking water in Tirumala on a serious note.
Briefing the media persons the deliberations of the Board of Trustees meeting, which met at Annamaiah Bhavan on Friday, TTD chairman K. Bapiraju said that the issue has already been taken up with both the Central and State governments and exuded confidence that the crisis would be soon resolved in another week’s time.
In reply to a question, he said that required forest clearances would be obtained on an affirmative note at the high-level meeting of the officials of the Ministry of Forests and Environments slated on July 24 at New Delhi.
Once the clearances are obtained the management will take up the laying of the pipe lines along the 1.2 kilometre of forest stretch in question and put an end to the issue.
In reply to another question, Raju said that the management was also equally serious with regard to the issue of strengthening of the security and has earmarked Rs.35 crore for the purpose. However, a final decision will be taken shortly after a high-level meeting. Other decisions include implementation of wages to outsourcing employees in TTD as per GO MS No.13, a cash award of Rs.10 lakh to Carnatic maestro Padmabhushan Dr. Pinakapani and ex gratia of Rs.1 lakh to the bereaved family of the boy, who accidentally died at Annadanam kitchen in TTDs Madhavam complex at Tirumala a few weeks ago.
Following a broad consensus reached between the TTD management and CITU, which was leading a stir for the cause of contract workers and outsourced staff , the trade union leaders dropped their plans to hold a massive dharna. Meanwhile, TRS MLA T. Harish Rao, who met Raju requested him to develop and renovate temples in Telangana region.
