Naidu proposes trust for Lord Venkateswara temples nationwide

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu announced plans to create a trust specifically for building Lord Venkateswara temples nationwide. He made this announcement during a media briefing on March 21. Naidu encouraged philanthropists to generously support this initiative and noted that the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) would also contribute. The Chief Minister highlighted the importance of preserving temples and promoting their development. He mentioned that there are seven temples in the state with annual incomes over ₹20 crore and several others generating significant revenue. He aims to enhance the management of these temples. Naidu outlined his government’s three main priorities: maintaining the sanctity of Tirumala, promoting the Kuchipudi dance, and boosting the global reputation of Araku coffee. He promised to recover any encroached land in Tirumala and ensure no commercial activities take place near the temple. He responded to concerns over previously approved hotel constructions near the temple site, stating that those permissions would be canceled. Many religious groups had opposed these hotels, arguing that they could hurt the community's religious feelings. When asked about water supply issues in Tirupati, Naidu reassured that there are sufficient water reservoirs to meet the needs of the city. He also addressed corruption allegations within the TTD, promising to take strict action against any involved officials to protect the town's sanctity.