The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Tirumala land issue will be sorted out shortly: Nagaraj Shetty

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Aug 15, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Tirumala land issue will be sorted out shortly: Nagaraj Shetty

S. Rajendran

‘Credit should go to coalition Government for finding a solution to the issue’

Dispute arose because of claims and counterclaims by Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh
The 7.5-acre land was donated by the then Maharaja of Mysore

BANGALORE: Minister for Muzrai, Ports and Fisheries B. Nagaraj Shetty has exuded confidence that the vexed land dispute between the State Government and the Andhra Pradesh Government over a 7.5-acre piece of land adjoining the main Tirumala Temple will be sorted out at the earliest.

The dispute has come to the fore over the past decade after the Karnataka Government stated that the land belonged to it and the Andhra Pradesh Government claimed that the land was taken over by that Government in 1958.

It was also stated that the Andhra Pradesh Government had issued a notice to the State (in 1957) and that the then Government of Mysore had refrained from replying to the notice.

The State Government has constructed a choultry with a number of rooms and a hall for the benefit of pilgrims visiting the temple town.

Donated

The 7.5-acre land was donated by the then Maharaja of Mysore and after the formation of the State the land became a Government property. Over the last few years, the State Government has given a strip of this land to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams to widen the road adjoining the Lord Venkateshwara Temple.

Mr. Nagaraj Shetty said credit should go to the coalition Government for trying to find a solution to the vexed issue.

“I have held two rounds of discussions with the Andhra Pradesh Government with the first meeting held at Tirupati and the second at Hyderabad. The final meeting is scheduled to be held at Tirupati on August 21 and I am confident that the issue would be resolved on that day in the presence of the Andhra Pradesh Minister for Religious Endowments Rathnakar Rao.” he said.

He said the State Government would sign a 50-year lease agreement with the Government of Andhra Pradesh and this would stand to be renewed at the end of the lease period. The State Government would agree to pay a nominal rent to the TTD and also agree to part with some land for further widening the road adjoining the temple. It would, however, seek an alternative piece of land in exchange.

Mr. Nagaraj Shetty said after the lease agreement was signed, the State Government would implement a plan to construct adequate number of rooms for pilgrims from the State. Some of the rooms would be given free to poor people visiting the temple. The construction would be taken up in two phases with the first phase estimated to cost Rs. 20 crore and the second Rs. 30 crore. The Government has earmarked funds in the budget. A sum of Rs. 5 crore was set apart in the last budget itself.

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