The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : TTD Chairman urges seers to remain calm

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Friday, Jun 25, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

TTD Chairman urges seers to remain calm

By Our Staff Reporter

TIRUMALA, JUNE 24. The Chairman of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) Board of trustees, T. Subbirami Reddy, on Thursday appealed to all the religious heads including the mathadhipathis and peetadhipathis to remain cool and restrain themselves from making any comments regarding the controversial Thousand Pillar mandapam (TPM) issue.

Briefing media persons, after holding the first board meeting of TTD trustees in his capacity as its Chairman, Mr. Reddy said that the previous board had resolved to dismantle the TPM structure based on the recommendations submitted by the TTD Agama advisory committee. But, with the crisis deepening further, the present board has decided to hammer out a unanimous decision over the issue before arriving at a final decision. As a preliminary step in the direction, all the religious heads including religious experts would be consulted and a final decision, whether to construct the TPM at the same dismantled site or choose an equally suited place without hurting the sentiments of any particular sect, would be taken. The TTD Board was in no hurry, he said. At present, it was only the levelling work that was in progress at the dismantled TPM site and no construction was being taken up.

To a question regarding the reported ultimatum given by Sri Tridandi Ramanuja Chinna Jeeyar, demanding the TTD to restrain itself from going ahead with the construction of another `maha prakaram' to the Hill temple, Mr. Reddy said the swamiji did not give any such ultimatum. "I spoke to him personally and he sounded very cool." All controversies shall be settled down amicably, he added.

Further, he said the main thrust of the new board would be on provision of better facilities to the visiting pilgrims including redressal of grievances of the aged and physically challenged devotees.

The board also resolved to constitute a sub-committee to study in depth the multi crore `Kumaradhara and Pasupudhara' project -- aimed at augmenting drinking water supply to the temple town of Tirumala. According to preliminary estimates the cost of the project was put at more than Rs. 80 crores.

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