New trust boards for more than 1100 temples across Andhra in August: Endowments minister Anam

TIRUPATI: State endowments minister Anam Ramnarayana Reddy has said that the Andhra Pradesh government will simultaneously constitute new trust boards for more than 1100 temples across the state in August.

Speaking to reporters after a high level meeting of the endowments department with the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams held at Tirumala on Saturday, the endowments minister attributed the delay in constituting new temple trust boards to the reluctance among the chairmans and board members appointed by the erstwhile YSRCP government in stepping down from their posts on moral grounds after a regime change in the state.

Shifting his focus to the meeting held with the TTD top brass including chairman BR Naidu, EO J Syamala Rao, Additional EO Ch Venkaiah Chowdary and Endowments department secretary V Vinay Chand, Anam explained that there was an elaborate discussion on the Common good fund (CGF) on whether to fix up a lumpsum contribution from the TTD to the state government or go with the 9% on overall annual revenues model every year. “A decision on this will be arrived at soon by the chief minister, who will take into account everyone’s considerations and take a final call on the issue”, the Endowments minister said.

Another key issue that came up for discussion was the delay in the disbursal of Srivani trust funds meant for the construction of Hindu temples in religious conversion-prone regions of the state. “Funds to the tune of Rs 147 cr has been blocked by the TTD as user certificates related to the expenditure incurred on earlier disbursed funds to the tune of Rs 107 cr were not submitted to the Tirupati trust. We have informed the TTD that the UCs will be submitted in due course of time and requested them to release the next tranche of Rs 147 cr funds and the TTD top brass positively responded on the issue”, Anam added.

Responding to the union minister of state for home affairs Bandi Sanjay’s remarks of over 1000 non-Hindus working in the TTD, the state endowments minister asserted that it is a fact that there are several non-Hindus working in the Tirupati trust. There is a strong sentiment among a majority of Hindus that non-believers cannot be allowed to be on the payrolls of the TTD, and both the state government and the Tirupati trust respect their sentiments. “While it has already been decided by the AP government and the TTD to oust the non-Hindus from the organisation, all possible means, including legal aspects, are being explored to expedite their ouster,” Anam clarified.

Another key issue that came up for discussion was the proposals from the Vijayawada Kanaka Durga temple authorities to seek TTD’s support in executing their plans for a twin ghat road project.

“There is a land parcel of about 2 acres close to the Indrakeeladri temple, which was donated by a devotee to the TTD. Since there exists no mechanism where in one temple trust can shift the ownership of land received as donation to another temple trust, we have asked the TTD authorities to consider the possibility of leasing out this land parcel after holding due consultations with the donor who donated it to the TTD. If this proposal materialises, it will help immensely in terms of de-congesting the existing road infrastructure around the Indrakeeladri temple at Vijayawada”, Endowments minister added.