The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Mandapam row: former EOs to find solution

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Aug 20, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Mandapam row: former EOs to find solution

By Our Special Correspondent

TIRUPATI. Aug 19. The Chief Minister, Rajasekhara Reddy, who was here on a two-day official visit, posted himself with the latest details of the two contentious projects of the TTD, which resulted in a stand-off between the Devasthanams and the Tridandi Srimannarayana Chinna Jeeyar.

The controversial projects are -- the demolition of the 1000-pillar mandapam and the construction of a `Maha Prakaram' at Tirumala around the existing temple complex.

But the proposals got mired in a stalemate with the Chinna Jeeyar opposing them on the ground that they were against the `agamic' sanctions while the TTD brushed them aside as `unfounded' and demolished the mandapam.

Though the Chinna Jeeyar managed to secure an executive order from the Government that the demolished 1000-pillar mandapam would be reconstructed at the same place where it existed, the issue now seems to have come back to square one after the Chief Minister's visit.

In the wake of the media reports and political outcry that the Government was buckling under pressure from the Jeeyar and issued the order in a `knee-jerk' reaction, the Chief Minister is now presumably on a `go slow' policy.

He is now in favour of constituting a committee with those who had worked as executive officers of the TTD in the past. He is also keen on roping in even retired employee so that with their past experience, they could go into the entire gamut of the issue and find out an amicable solution.

Panel to be formed

Sources indicate that the Government may soon constitute the panel comprising P.V.R.K. Prasad, a former and popular TTD EO, who until recently was heading the MCRHRDI, Hyderabad also.

I.V. Subba Rao, presently the Secretary, Education, and other former EOs are also expected to be members of the proposed panel. Sources further said that in view of the sensitive nature of the issue,the Chief Minister was keen on avoiding a committee with religious heads and instead press into service the fire-fighting panel with former and in-service bureaucrats to diplomatically handle the issue and find an `honourable solution'.

Out of ASI purview

TTD sources also pointed out that the Tirumala temple or any `active temple' did not come under the purview of the Archeological Survey of India (ASI). This was a facility reportedly provided in order to give the `active temples' the freedom to alter the temple and other related structures to meet their changing needs. keeping with the changing times.

The source further said that notwithstanding this, the TTD infact has in its files a letter wherein the ASI had 'agreed in principle' as far back as in 1981 itself for the demolition and the re-location of the 1000-pillar mandapam. So even the complaint that TTD violated the ASI guidelines would not be valid in this case, the source asserted. In any case, we are not for any confrontation with anybody as our endeavour is to augment the amenities at Tirumala to cope with the ever-increaing pilgrim influx, the source said.

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