Southern States - Andhra Pradesh   

TTD's `mega plan' runs into trouble

By Our Staff Reporter

TIRUPATI Dec. 5. The Tirupati Municipality has served notice on the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) management for taking up the construction of a multi-storeyed complex, said to be without the official permission and also for the non-payment of the required developmental charges.

The mega complex "Srinivasam,'' born with the fusion of the TTD's idea of providing centralised pilgrim accommodation at Tirupati (downhill) and the increasingly-felt strain on the scant resources on Tirumala hills, is being executed on a war-footing by a Pune-based engineering firm. The complex will also spare the pilgrims the ordeal of running from pillar to post for shelter and as well curtail the chances of middlemen making money.

The municipality served the notice on TTD recently and declared the structure "unauthorised.'' It is learnt that the TTD has not submitted the plan at all for municipal approval nor has it sought to pay the prescribed charges either.

The TTD had been seeking exemption of payment of charges for its construction activity (as is the case with Government departments), arguing that it was very much a quasi-Government establishment. Notwithstanding the prolonged wrangle, the Government firmly turned down the plea some time ago, forcing the TTD to make the payment.

Given the TTD's contribution to the town in the form of taking up construction and maintenance of all the arterial roads, lighting, underground drainage, running educational institutions and hospitals, the municipality could not talk tough in demanding the charges. Even civic officials admit that with the meagre funds available with them, it would have been impossible for them to provide the excellent infrastructure and meet the denizens' requirements.

After a lot of soft-pedalling over the issue, the civic authority exerted "mild pressure'' on the TTD for the payment, knowing that the Government had denied it the privilege. The Director, Town and Country planning, during his recent visit to Tirupati, too had directed his officials to stick to their guns, which resulted in the serving of the notice -- claimed in municipal circles as a "routine'' one -- on the TTD management seeking payment of the charges. The amount payable is not immediately known.

Interestingly, the TTD did not seek permission from the Tirupati Urban Development Authority (TUDA) either, for any of its buildings ever since the inception of the latter in 1982, presumably for the same old reason.

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