Controversy Erupts Over TTD’s Allocation of 1% Annual Revenue for Tirupati Development:
The decision made by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) trust board to allocate one percent of its annual revenue for the development of Tirupati city has sparked a political controversy.
While some political parties criticized the decision, residents, local leaders, and social activists objected to the “politicization” of the decision, emphasizing its potential to enhance the growth and well-being of the temple city.
Tirupati city, serving as the gateway to the hill temple of Lord Venkateswara in Tirumala, has always been a focal point for devotees on their way to Tirumala. In alignment with TTD’s commitment to the development of the temple city, the trust board chose to allocate one percent of its annual revenue to the Municipal Corporation of Tirupati (MCT).
However, the BJP claimed that the decision was driven by political motives. Retired bureaucrat I.Y.R. Krishnarao, a former TTD executive officer and ex-state chief secretary, questioned whether the civic body would reciprocate by allocating one percent of its revenue to the temple. He pointed out that Tirupati’s economic growth owed much to the presence of the Tirumala shrine. BJP spokesperson Bhanuprakash Reddy criticized the temple trust board, suggesting that it was unduly influenced by the government. He also questioned the government’s practice of accessing funds from temple offerings while not seeking funds from churches or the Waqf Board.
Deputy Mayor Abhinay Reddy rejected these allegations and emphasized the substantial contributions made by TTD to the city. He noted that TTD manages prominent Hindu shrines in Tirupati, along with guest houses, pilgrim amenities complexes, and its own administrative building in the city.
Abhinay Reddy clarified that TTD and MCT are now working together as part of a task force dedicated to transforming Tirupati city into a world-class center for Hindu pilgrimage. The allocation of one percent of TTD’s revenue to MCT aims to facilitate development that benefits both local residents and visiting devotees.
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