AP Government Rejects 1% Annual TTD Budget Allocation for Tirupati Development
TIRUPATI: The state government has disagreed with the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) trust board's proposal to allocate 1 per cent of its annual budget to the development of Tirupati city, the gateway to the hill town of Tirumala.
The decision taken by the TTD trust board on October 9 raised a row in recent days. The 1 per cent of TTD's annual budget comes to about Rs 4,000 crore a year. There, however, was fierce opposition from various sectors and political parties.
Critics said this decision could be perceived as an attempt to divert TTD funds away from religious activities. This reached the ears of the state government.
Meanwhile, the TTD trust board sent their proposal for approval and ratification by the state government.
In an official order on October 20, addressed to the TTD executive officer, special chief secretary to the government (endowments) stated that the government has disagreed with the proposal.
The government order stated, “The executive officer of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams has been informed that the proposal to allocate one per cent of TTD's annual budget for the development of Tirupati is not agreed on by the government."
BJP leader Sadineni Yamini Sarma has welcomed the government's decision to reverse the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) proposal to allocate 1% of its annual budget to Tirupati's development. She views this as a victory for the BJP and Hindu organizations who opposed the TTD's decision, accusing the YSRC government of commercializing the sacred temple.
Sarma has expressed skepticism of the 1% fund allocation, raising concerns that it could increase in the future, affecting devotees. She worries that if this trend spreads to other temples, it may raise questions about how devotees' contributions are utilised.
Questioning why TTD funds are being used for Tirupati's development when the Union government has already allocated significant funds through the Smart City scheme, Sarma argues that, given the substantial revenue generated by Tirupati, the state government should take a more prominent role in its development.
