TIRUMALA: The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has decided to take over Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple, built 25 years ago at Baithul near Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh by an NRI who is now unable to run it on account of old age, said TTD chairman DK Adikesavulu Naidu.
The beautiful temple, set in a sprawling 15 acre site, was built at a cost of Rs 15 crore. The TTD will take over the temple without conditions and any financial entailments, Naidu said in answer to a query. The TTD had also agreed to take possession of land in GN Chetty Road in Chennai valued at Rs 7 crore to Rs 8 crore. It decided to award the contract for supply of ghee to the Karnataka Milk Federation and a Delhi-based company on a 70:30 ratio.
The Trust Board advised TTD executive officer IYR Krishna Rao to discuss with the Dravidian University whether the recurring grant of Rs 50 lakh per annum should be reduced or enhanced. Earlier, employees union leaders Nagarjuna and others, pressing for house sites for TTD staff had heated discussions with Naidu.