In a move aimed at increasing the surveillance in and around the Tirumala temple, the TTD has decided to instal nearly 1,720 closed circuit television cameras. The Tirumala temple has been classified under category-A (high risk) temple by the intelligence agencies and the elite anti-terror unit, Octopus.
The TTD has decided to put the temple under surveillance with 2,000 CCTVs. It has already installed nearly 300 surveillance cameras apart from the proposed 1,720 cameras.
The CCTVs would be procured at a cost of Rs 62 crore and would be installed with the help of HCL and the Intelligence Bureau and state and central government agencies would assist in identifying the places where they have to be installed, TTD chairman Kanumuri Bapiraju has said.
‘’We are at a high risk and a likely target of terrorist acts . We were suggested to take up adequate security on a permanent basis including installation of surveillance cameras, anti-sabotage checks and security drill to deal with terrorist attacks,’’ he said.
TTD chairman, executive officer a briefed the media. Bapiraju said that renowned violinist A Kanya Kumari of Chennai, and a native of Vizianagaram, has been appointed ‘Asthana Vidwan’ of the TTD.
The meeting has also decided to appoint Sreenivasacharyulu, mirasi archak of Tiruchanur temple and C Jaggappacharyulu and Vedaala Venkata Seetharamacharyulu of Guntur and Srikakulam respectively as advisors of Pancharathra agama. They will also check the TTD Pancharathragama temples and streamline the day-to-day affairs, he said.
‘’We have discussed the house sites issue and decided to submit a detailed report to the Board. Joint executive officer, Tirupati, will hold a meeting with all the employees unions and associations on June 18,’’ the chairman said. The Trust Board has unanimously decided to construct a dining hall with a capacity of 4,000 at Jillellamudi in Guntur district where the ‘Mathru Sree’ organaisation is running ‘annadanam.’ The dining hall would be constructed at a cost of `one crore, he said.
Bapiraju said the Board has approved in principle to adopt Sri Venkateswara temple in Chandigarh, which was constructed and maintained by an IAS officer of that state.
The Trust Board has decided to appoint Medasani Mohan, former director of Annamacharya project, as incharge of Bharata Vangmaya project. The meeting has also approved to formulate certain guidelines regarding implementation of service conditions to the erstwhile archaka mirasidars under AP Charitable and Hindu Religious Endowment Amendment Act.
Later TTD chairman K Bapiraju visited Matrusri Tarigonda Vengamamba Annaprasada Bhavan in Tirumala on Saturday. The board chairman who had food along with executive officer LV Subramanyam and other board members, expressed satisfaction over the quality of food.
Bapiraju said during the last board meeting, it has been decided to purchase Sona Masuri rice from the Association of Rice Millers of Andhra Pradesh at Rs 39 per kilogram.