The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Panel on mandapam row to meet in December

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Nov 20, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Panel on mandapam row to meet in December

By Our Special Correspondent

TIRUPATI. Nov. 19. The three-member panel constituted by the Andhra Pradesh Government to go into the row over the demolition of the Tirumala `Veyyi Kalla Mandapam' will hold a two-day convention at Tirupati from December 5 involving all concerned.

Former IAS officer P.V.R.K. Prasad heading the panel said that half a dozen experts each representing Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu besides an equal number to be nominated by the Tridandi Chinna Jeeyar Swamy would participate in the proposed convention. In addition to this, four independent observers -- V.R. Panchamukhi, D. Prahladachar, Raghunatha Bhattar and Krishnamurthy Sasthry -- would take part in the deliberation as representatives of the panel.

The objective

The objective of the exercise is to churn up views on the nagging issues by involving experts so that a road-map to tackle them on a permanent footing could be hammered out. It may be recalled that the terms of reference of the three-member committee are: studying the feasibility of relocating the dismantled 1000-pillar mandapam in the same place where it existed, the construction of the Maha Prakaram on which conflicting views are emerging and finally the implementation of the Master Plan for Tirumala which would mean removal of encroachments and eviction of inhabitants. Besides Mr. Prasad who earlier worked as the TTD's Executive Officer, the other two members of the panel are A. Chengappa, former Endowments Commissioner, and Y. Chakradhara Rao, former Joint EO, TTD, Tirumala.

Report in January

Talking to mediapersons, Mr. Prasad said that the committee would be submitting its report to the Government by January 15 and pointed out that it had already held 13 sittings while many more were on the cards. It would hold interactive sessions with the public at Chennai and Hyderabad while Bangalore was already covered in which among others the former Karnataka Chief Minister Veerappa Moily, noted film actress of yesteryear, B. Sarojadevi and the former TTD Board Chairman and Chittoor MP, Audikesavulu Naidu, also participated.

Mr. Prasad said that the Chinna Jeeyar Swamy whom the panel members met recently at Vijayawada was very particular that the Agama principles be followed in letter and spirit in the Tirumala temple. This is in fact the bone of contention behind the row between the Jeeyar Swamy and the TTD.

The panel members as part of their mission today visited the Putu, Bangaru Bavi, Kalyanotsava Mandapam etc in the hill temple and studied their working.

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