Tirumala (Andhra Pradesh) [India], May 16 (ANI): Tirumala Tirupati DevasthanamĀ (TTDĀ ), the administrative body of Lord Balaji temple, is gearing up to allow devotees for āDarsanamā of Lord Balaji amid the coronavirus induced lockdown. TTDĀ officials said that the limited number of devotees will be allowed for āDarsanamā (worshipping).
āWe will allow a limited number of devotees for āDarsanamā. Accordingly, Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) officials are making arrangements for running buses from Tirupati to Tirumala. Markings are being done in buses. Arrangements are being done for social distancing at bus complexes and ticket counters,ā said the officials.
āOnce the lockdown restrictions are relaxed and the temple is opened, the RTC will run buses. In 49 seater bus, 30 passengers will be allowed. In 47 seater bus, 28 passengers will be allowed. In 45 seater bus, 25 passengers will be allowed. Every passenger must wear a mask,ā they added.
APSRTC Tirumala depotās Deputy Manager Giridhar Reddy said that authorities are ready to run buses from the day TTDĀ allows for darshan of Lord Balaji. āWe are ready to run buses from the day TTDallows for āDarsanamā of Lord Balaji. We are checking the maintenance of buses once in three days. Buses are in perfect condition.
We are reducing occupancy to 50 per cent for passenger safety,ā he said. āPassengers must wear masks and must observe the social distance. Leg operated sanitizer machines for hand wash will be there at the bus stand. Volunteers will be there to guide.
Bus fares will be the same, as usual,ā added Reddy. āDarsanamā at the Lord Balaji TempleĀ in Tirumala is suspended since lockdown and currently, all rituals are being performed in isolation at Tirumala and other affiliated temples.
No decision taken to sell any landed properties: Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam Trust Board Chairman
Tirumala Tirupati DevasthanamĀ (TTDĀ ) Trust Board chairman YV Subba ReddyĀ has refuted the reports about the sale of TTDĀ lands, stating that no such decision has been taken.
āThe reports about the sale of TTDĀ lands are all politically motivated. The actual decision was taken by the earlier board and the state government in 2014-2019.
They had decided that small pieces of TTDĀ land in villages, which are in remote areas, especially properties in TN villages, should be disposed of. This decision was taken as the TTDĀ is not in a position to take care of those properties,ā Reddy told ANI.
He said that the present TTDĀ board has only reviewed the earlier decision and till now no decision has been taken to sell these properties. āWe have just reviewed the decision and asked the officials if they can not protect these properties.
They have been asked to review the properties and submit a report. As of now, we have not decided to sell the properties,ā he said. In view of the controversy, the Andhra PradeshĀ government has issued an order directing the TTDĀ Board to re-examine the issue in consultation with different stakeholders.
āTill the finalisation of the matter stated above, the proposed disposal of 50 properties by TTDĀ is hereby kept in abeyance,ā reads the order of the State government.
Brahmana Chaitanya Vedika condemns sale of assets donated to Lord Balaji Temple
Brahmana Chaitanya VedikaĀ president S Sridhar SarmaĀ said that the forum condemned the sale of assets donated to Lord BalajiTemple by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Trust Board as directed by the state government. Addressing the media here, Sarma alleged that Visakhapatnam Sarada Peetham seer Swami Swarupanandendra is playing a key role in the sale of lands donated to Tirumala temple.
āThe sale of lands includes conspiracy of selling land at Rishikesh to Swaruapnandendra. Further discussions about the land sale were done at the ashram of Swarupanendra,ā he said.
Sarma demanded former TTD EO IYR Krishnarao to respond to the decision of the trust board to sell the asset donated by yesteryear actress Kanchana. āLord Balajiās āNaivedyamā is being sold like a sweet in a sweetshop. This is highly objectionable. Lord BalajiĀ will punish the ruler of the state and TTD Board for such sacrilegious acts,ā he said. (ANI)
About The Author
