Authorities to allocate 100-acre land for TTD temple in J&K: Report

SRINAGAR — The Jammu and Kashmir administration has principally agreed to allot 100-acre land to ‘Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanams’ (TTD) along the Jammu-Katra highway for the construction of a replica of the Tirumala temple in the area.

It has been learnt from sources in TTD that Devasthanams hopes to complete the construction of the temple along with a Vedic School and Hospital in two years time.

Newspaper reports have also quoted MP V. Vijaya Sai Reddy who led the delegation of TTD Board as having said on Monday. Talking to a national newspaper over phone from Delhi, Reddy said two sites were identified as suitable for constructing the temple.

The reports suggested that acting on the instructions of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy, the team comprising TTD Executive Officer Anil Kumar Singhal, Joint Executive Officer Basant Kumar and Board Member J. Sekar held discussions with the Union Territory’s officials and short-listed two sites at Dhummi and Majin in the Jammu district.

“We also met the Chief Secretary of Jammu & Kashmir and explained the details of our project. It has been a long-pending demand of pilgrims from many north Indian States visiting Tirumala that a replica of the temple be constructed in Jammu,” he has been quoted to have said.

Reddy, according to reports, said that funds for constructing the temple, a Vedic school, a marriage hall and a hospital would be raised from devotees and the TTD would also contribute to the extent possible.

Asked about security concerns in the newly formed UT, the Rajya Sabha Member said that Jammu was peaceful and there was no threat whatsoever.

“Jammu is a peaceful place. Life is absolutely normal and no untoward incidents are reported in the area. We have taken all aspects, including security, access to the site, availability of water and transport facilities into consideration before finalising the two sites. More importantly, the sites are located on the highway leading to the Vaishno Devi Temple,” a national newspaper quoted Reddy as having added.