Manoeuvring through master plan maze - 4
Episode - 16
Part 4
Mr.Ramachandra Reddy first targeted the leader who had threatened that bulldozers had to ride over their corpses for the demolition work to proceed. The leader was in no way concerned with the properties under demolition. He lifted him by the scruff of his collar and shook him in the air. "You are not the affected party. If you obstruct the staff on duty, I will beat you to pulp. ", roared Mr. Ramachandra Reddy like a lion provoked. The unanticipated development sent shivers down the spine of the leader and his followers, who took to their heels.The crowd, which appeared hostile a few minutes earlier, curiously watched the demolition. Thereafter, the demolition drive in South Mada Street went uninterrupted. Subsequently, some other house owners and tenants, who had till then hesitated, signed agreements with the TTD on parting with their properties.
Part 4
Mr.Ramachandra Reddy first targeted the leader who had threatened that bulldozers had to ride over their corpses for the demolition work to proceed. The leader was in no way concerned with the properties under demolition. He lifted him by the scruff of his collar and shook him in the air. "You are not the affected party. If you obstruct the staff on duty, I will beat you to pulp. ", roared Mr. Ramachandra Reddy like a lion provoked. The unanticipated development sent shivers down the spine of the leader and his followers, who took to their heels.The crowd, which appeared hostile a few minutes earlier, curiously watched the demolition. Thereafter, the demolition drive in South Mada Street went uninterrupted. Subsequently, some other house owners and tenants, who had till then hesitated, signed agreements with the TTD on parting with their properties.
Sannidhi Street(Street opposite the main temple entrance) during 1960's
Demolitions progressed at lightning speed. The enthusiasm and the effort put in by the TTD staff in carrying out the stupendous job is unforgettable. The project involved more than the demotion of 3000 structures including choultries and mutts. It called for transporting the affected people with their belongings to new places, provision of alternative accommodation and food during the transit, and the removal of debris. After one year of such non-stop effort, land could be acquired for the construction of the present 'asthana mantap', 'annadana' complex, canteen, 'kalyana katta', market complex and of course the quqeue complex. In addition, many structures in the four Mada streets were removed - Still, the most important Sannidhi street remained untouched.
Sannidhi Street, in front of the main entrance to the temple, was hardly six feet in width, and shrinking further with the traders nobbling at the road., One had to wade through waves of humanity. Unless the shops and structures were moved 50 feet away on either side the street could not be widened to 100 feet. If the shopkeepers agreed to move, I promised to construct new permanent shops for them. We told the shopkeepers, "We are initiating the move in the interest of pilgrims. But we will ensure that your interests are not compromised. Every shop owner will get a similar shop exactly in the same location 50ft back. Please cooperate with us". In response to our repeated pleas, many shopkeepers agreed to the proposal. But they expressed their misgivings. "If we vacate now, but some others get allotments later with political interference?". Apparently , they did not have confidence in TTD officials , including me.
Sannidhi Street after widening in the masterplan in 1982.
"Where is the guarantee that we will get back our shops and that too in the same order", they questioned. A 5 feet by 6 feet shop or space had a potential to earn lakhs of rupees per month... Those with power -- political, financial or physical -- were willing to do anything to possess a shop... at any cost.
Meanwhile, we studied to what extent the thousand-pillar 'mantap' to the south of Sannidhi Street had to be shifted for widening Sannidhi Street to 100 feet. We persuaded the owners of 'Mutt' properties behind the shops on the northern side of Sannidhi Street to the widening proposal and obtained their signatures on agreements. As we progressed, the worst we feared - court stays - happened. Few people approached different courts and obtained multiple stays . This was the most precious space in Tirumala and every inch was contested.
All my efforts at persuasion had proved futile. There was no meaning to the Master Plan if Sannidhi Street could not be widened. Our team and I felt dejected. The euphoria over successfully continuing the work so far vanished in thin air. Court stays would mean the end of this activity at least for the time being. My limited tenure in the TTD ticking away left me frustrated. Perhaps , I was not destined to do this work. If that were to be the will of the Lord, why should I bother. If I were destined to do it, He would show me a way out.
A very consoling thought. But, it could not convince me "Should we not put in our efforts, although we ardently believe that a divine power orchestrates everything?" We tried in vain to open a dialogue with those who had obtained stays.
As a last resort, I spoke to the Advocate General and our legal advisors. We approached the High Court , got all the cases in different courts transferred to the High Court for a collective hearing and filed our response. We explained the Master Plan objectives - how it was being implemented and the importance of widening Sannidhi Street as part of the plan. Most of the affected people had agreed to vacate. We put it in black and white that new shops would be allocated to all those whose shops were to be demolished. The TTD would stand by the commitment without fear or favour and render justice to one and all. Accepting our arguments, the High Court at one stroke vacated all the stay orders on a Friday morning. Taking the order as Lord's endorsement of our efforts, we took up Sannidhi Street widening that day itself. Before the concerned could realize as to what was happening, we planned to complete demolitions by monday preventing further litigation in higher courts. The operation , of course, was not without its share of hiccups.
What was the obstacle again?? Read in the conclusion part to be posted on 25th March 2017.
OM NAMO SRINIVASAYA
OM NAMO NARAYANAYA
OM NAMO VENKATESAYA
OM NAMO SRINIVASAYA
OM NAMO NARAYANAYA
OM NAMO VENKATESAYA