K M Dayashankar
TIRUMALA, JULY 04, 2024: With the onset of monsoon and increase of green foliage on the Tirumala hills, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) has decided to accord top priority to the safety of the devotees trekking on the Alipiri and Srivari Mettu walkways.
Accordingly, TTD executive officer J Shyamala Rao conducted a review meeting on the safety measures of the pedestrians with the government forest, TTD forest, engineering, vigilance and security departments. The safety and security of the pilgrims trekking the footpath routes to reach Tirumala holds paramount importance, asserted the TTD EO.
Speaking on this occasion, he said that apart from the existing trap cameras, more numbers should be set up to track the movement of leopards and other animals. The officials concerned were directed to take steps to improve the signaling system especially, so that the control room gets movement of the alarm signals on the movement of wild beasts roaming from the Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple to the seventh mile at any time. This will help in sending caution to the devotees and alerting them on time.
The officials were directed to write a letter to the Committee saying that the proposals given by the earlier joint committee were too expensive and suggest cost effective alternative structures and routes. Earlier the EO was briefed by the Forest officials on at what times the footpath has high or low flow of devotees, times leopards are roaming in the area, through PPT prepared by Wild Life Institution of India.
It was brought to the notice of the EO that the devotees on foot should reach Tirumala at the prescribed times and accordingly changes should be made. The EO asked JEO Veerabraham and CV&SO Narasimha Kishore to discuss with the concerned authorities and take appropriate measures as per the suggestion of forest officials.
The EO also reviewed what works have been undertaken, progress of these works, how many more works need to be carried out and other related issues in detail. SV Zoo Park Curator Selvam, DFO Tirupati Satish, Sub-DFO Nageswara Rao, SE2 Jagadeeshwar Reddy, Deputy CF TTD Srinivas, Estates Special Officer Mallikharjuna, Health Officer Dr Sridevi and others were present.
