HYDERABAD: The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet has decided to transfer the control over the reserve forest around the seven hills of Tirumala to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD).

As the TTD does not have any authority over this reserve forest, the Cabinet authorised Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy to write to the Centre to transfer the control to the temple authority.

Once this is done, the TTD will be in full control over a greater extent of area instead of the present seven hills.

Besides, it adopted a resolution stating that the Tirumala hills area consists of seven and not two hills.

This is a reiteration of the original Government order specifying an area with a radius of 27 km from Tirumala as being part of the religious township. These decisions assume significance in light of the hue and cry raised by various sections, including the Sangh Parivar, over the alleged move of the State Government to reduce the area under TTD's control to two hills.

Although this was denied by Endowments Minister J.C. Diwakar Reddy, temple archakas, employees and some Hindu organisations threatened to launch an agitation.

The Cabinet took note of the recent promise by TTD chief priest R.V. Ramana Deekshitulu that there was no evangelical activity either by any group or person on the Hills.

The chief priest and TTD employees called on the Chief Minister recently to dispel the apprehensions.

Sources said that if the Centre decided to permit the transfer of reserve forest, it would lead to an increase in the extent of area under the TTD control.

Earlier, the Chief Minister reportedly directed Ministers to effectively supervise the implementation of Indiramma programme, referring to some complaints. Coupled with Jalayagnam, it could transform the face of the rural economy, he said.

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