Liquor Ban In Tirupati Soon: TTD Chairman

As both Tirumala and Tirupati are pilgrim centres, a liquor ban will be implemented in a phased manner in Tirupati too on the lines of the one in Tirumala which is a liquor-free zone, and a proposal in this regard will be sent for the consent of the Andhra Pradesh government, said Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) Trust Board Chairman Y V Subba Reddy.

During a press conference held at Annamaiah Bhavan in Tirumala on Wednesday evening, the Chairman shared the important resolutions taken during the board meeting.

"Andhra Pradesh CM Y S Jaganmohan Reddy is firm on a complete liquor ban in the State. In Tirumala liquor has been banned for several decades. Since Tirupati also happens to be a prime pilgrim destination, we have resolved in the board meeting to impose a total liquor ban in Tirupati too," he said.

To protect the environs of Tirumala, a total plastic ban would also be imposed by Sankranti next, the TTD Board chief added.

Among other decisions taken, he said, was one that the works of Garuda Varadhi would be continued after redesigning was done for the project. Also, the Sri Venkateswara Institution of Medical Sciences (SVIMS), considered to be the a state-of-the-art medical institution, would be absorbed into the TTD. The board had also given the green signal for the regularization of 162 forest workers, a proposal for which would be sent to State government for approval, and the remaining 200 forest workers would be given Time Scale.

The board had also approved Time Scale pay for 386 contract teachers and lecturers in TTD educational institutions, and for 241 Kalyana Katta barbers.

The Chairman said that a committee would also be constituted to decide the guidelines on the hereditary archakas issue.