Enable TTD Specified Authority to eliminate corruption: LSP

The Lok Satta Party on Monday asked the Government to empower the TTD Specified Authority to preserve and protect the sanctity of the devasthanam and render better services to common people by eliminating corruption and utilizing every paisa devotees offer to the God.

The Government had so far winked at widespread corruption in the TTD as it had turned it into a political rehabilitation center, said party working-president DVVS Varma in a media statement. The Government should expiate its sins at least now by ceasing to play political games.

Mr Varma said that institutional mechanisms utilizing modern technology should be in place to prevent and eradicate corruption. A thorough inquiry should be instituted into reports of missing gold coins, diamonds and jewellery.

The authority should cancel the ‘Arjitha Seva’ tickets booked in advance up to 2030 and their issuance afresh through a secure online system. Corporate houses should be asked to build their modern cottages and guesthouses on hills farther from the temple so that common, middle class pilgrims, who constitute the majority, did not suffer for want of accommodation.

The Government should stamp out mafias smuggling in liquor and meat atop the hills with political support.

Mr Varma suggested that the Specified Authority take steps to allocate 50 percent of the temple’s revenue towards education and health care and constitute health and education mission for utilizing the funds. Temples in districts too with huge incomes should promote educational and health care institutions, he said.