Manoeuvring through master plan maze - 3

Episode 15

Part - 3


Beginning the very next day I started discussing Tirumala development with persons like Lakshmipathi, Raghavan, Ramu, Krishna , Naidu , Chary, Ramachandra Reddy and a host of others, representing all sections like Mutt owners, authorized and unauthorized owners tenants, shop-keepers and hawkers.

The TTD Trust Board under Mr.Anna Rao's chairmanship had just been dissolved and a Persons-in-Charge Committee with the Revenue Secretary as Chairman , Endowments Commissioner as Member and I as Member-Secretary had come into existence. I put forth my views on Tirumala's development before the committee and later discussed with the Minister for Endowments and the Chief Minister. "To develop Tirumala as an ideal Pilgrim center, we have to implement a Master Plan. For that Sir, I need your blessings". With the Board and the Government giving me the green signal, I worked out a comprehensive strategy.

The strategy called for a survey of the entire Tirumala panchayat. All private structures like houses , huts and sheds around the temple were to be photographed. The survey should record the type of construction , area and the number of people living there and their status, that is whether they were owners, tenants or leaseholders. Once the survey was completed, the people being displaced would be paid compensation and shifted to a township to be constructed three km away from the temple.New accommodation would be given on lease. 


A committee was to be appointed to decide on the compensation so that the entire process would be transparent and not give scope for any allegations. All the affected people would be taken into confidence and persuaded to withdraw all their cases in courts and move to the new township.

In a month, the names of people owning the structures and the number of people living in each of them were recorded as part of the survey.The TTD formed an empowered committee to discuss with local people the acquisition of their properties. The committee would also lay down the criteria for payment of compensation. Plans were also chalked out to shift 'mutts' around the temple to a 'Mutt' street away from the temple, that is beyond Mada Streets.

The committee, in another month, finalized the compensation to be paid for each variety of property to be acquired.Depending on the plinth area, type and location of the structure , each affected person could calculate the compensation he or she would get based on the standardized rates.As the compensation for owners tenants and leaseholders had been spelt out and made transparent every one of the affected parties knew who would get what.

Initially, we took up the area meant for the modern queue complex to clear encroachments.We opted for a crescent shaped queue, to ensure that the entire load bearing structure came up on the tank bund. The TTD entered into agreements with property holders, resulting in a gradual and slow withdrawal of cases from the courts. As and when a property became free of litigation and an agreement was reached, action to demolish the structures was taken up.

As the demolitions progressed in the slum area, there was opposition from some pucca building owners in South Mada Street. Although most of the important people - owners, tenants and leaseholders - had magnanimously entered into agreements with the TTD and withdrew cases, a few , instigated by local leaders, went back on their commitment and stoutly opposed the demolition programme. Unless the pucca buildings on South Mada street were demolished , the queue complex and the temple could not be connected.

Around 11 am one day, Chief Security Officer Ramachandra Reddy briefed me on the furore over demolitions, He told me that some local leaders had collected a crowd and physically resisted the demolition under way. The demolition could not progress even for an inch. TTD Engineering employees were engaged in a heated argument with the local people. "You can demolish the houses only after your bulldozers mow us down", one local leader had reportedly threatened . Unnerved bu the cries and protests, Mr.Ramachandra Reddy , assisting the demolition programme, had come running to me. During the conversation, it came to light that the resistance from the local leaders and the structures under demolition were not theirs.

I was stunned by the resistance. " After all, we have taken up the programme with their consent in writing. Why were they making an issue of it now after so many days? " . A few leaders having their own personal agenda were behind this, I could only think of the Lord and concluded "If Lord wills it, it happens. Who am I to worry about this. It is His place. If He does not want improvements, who am I to attempt and worry ?". 

As I was lost in such thoughts, I happened to see the three letters 'IPS' on the shoulder badge of Mr.Ramachandra Reddy. He was an Indian Police Service Officer of the rank of an Additional Superintendent of Police on deputation to the TTD. Involuntarily, I blurted out, addressing the policeman in him, "Why have you come to me ? Being a police officer - that too belonging to the Indian Police Service - you are capable of controlling a small crowd ". As if he got the message, Mr.Ramachandra Reddy mumbled something and left like a man possessed.

What did the IPS Officer do next ?? Read in the next episode to be posted on 18th March 2017.

                                                                                 
                                                                                                 OM NAMO SRINIVASAYA
                                                                                                 OM NAMO NARAYANAYA
                                                                                                 OM NAMO VENKATESAYA

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