Chief Minister Naidu proposes an exclusive trust for Lord Venkateswara temples

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu announces plans for Lord Venkateswara temples, emphasizing temple preservation and development.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Friday (March 21) unveiled plans to establish a dedicated trust for the construction of Lord Venkateswara temples across the country.

In an impromptu media briefing on Friday, he said that the modalities, including the structure of the trust as well as its funding mechanisms, will be soon formalized. Urging the philanthropists to munificently contribute for the noble cause he said that the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) would also contribute its share.

Highlighting the State’s strong temple ecosystem he reaffirmed his commitment to preserving temples and ensuring their development. There are seven temples in the State with an annual income exceeding ₹20 crore, 13 temples with over ₹5 crore in annual revenue and several others generating more than ₹1 crore annually. These temples will be systematically developed, he said. 

Outlining his government’s three priorities —  safeguarding Tirumala’s sanctity, promoting Kuchipudi as a heritage art form and enhancing Araku coffee global reputation — he reiterated his commitment to protecting Tirumala’s sanctity as well as securing back all its encroached assets. Recalling his past contributions for the benefit of humanity (Manava seva) like the introduction of Annadana and Pranadana trusts, he emphasized that his next mission was to do Madhava seva (serve God) by constructing Venkateswara temples at all the places, where the Hindus dwelled. 

He also emphatically announced the cancellation of permissions by the previous government for the construction of hotels —  Muntaj, Emar and Devalok — at the foot of the Hill temple abutting the Alipiri security point, in Tirupati and categorically stated that no commercial activity of any kind will be entertained in the area. For the record, several religious organizations since past several months have been voicing their concerns over the construction of these hotels allegedly by the people of alien faith and termed the granting of permission as nothing less than compromising with the religious sentiments of the people. 

In reply to a question he said that there were multiple reservoirs like Kandaleru, Kailasagiri, Telugu Ganga, Somasila, Kalyani and Mallemadugu to meet the drinking water requirements of Tirupati and recalled his tackling of water scarcity atop Tirumala in late nineties by laying a water pipeline on a war footing from Kalyani Dam in a record 90 days time.

When a reporter drew his attention to the corruption charges rocking the TTD Revenue Panchayat wing in Tirumala, he promised stringent action against the erring officials and reiterated his commitment for the protection of sanctity of the town.