TIRUPATI: The Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change has yet to approve the Tirumala TirupatiDevasthanams’ (TTD) resolution to lay a third road to Tirumala, a hill town, from Kukkaladoddi, Kadapa.
95% of the route falls within national park area, and only 5% of land is under TTD’s jurisdiction.
Recent rains damaged the second ghat route leading to Tirumala hills. This also caused traffic problems along the two other ghat roads. The TTD trust board decided to build an alternative road to Tirumala, keeping in mind the safety of visitors and the difficulties encountered on the ghat roads when heavy rains are common.
The trust board, headed by YVSubba Reddy, passed a resolution to lay a third ghat route via Annamayya Marg. It is located on Kukkaladoddi’s side.
The current stretch of road that passes through the Seshachalam Biosphere from Kukkaladoddi to Tirumala is approximately 20 km. The third ghat road that runs from this point may reduce the travel distance for devotees who are coming to Tirumala via Kadapa. They would not have to travel as far as Alipiri in Tirupati in order to reach the hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara.
However, 95 percent of the route via Annamaya Marg falls within the Seshachalam biosphere, and is therefore subject to the national park. The TTD board needs to obtain clearances from the central ministry. This ministry is responsible for preparing and implementing the legislation to control and mitigate environmental impacts and make the third ghat route plan a reality.
Talk to Deccan ChronicleSrinivasulu Srireddy, TTD DFO Srinivasulu said that many environmental clearances need to be obtained from central ministry, central and state pollution control board, national board or state wildlife advisory boards, and other enforcement agents for environmental regulations.
“Also, this zone falls under the tiger corridor though we have no tigers here. So we must also approach the National Tiger Conservation department for clearances,” he explained.
According to sources, TTD Engineering Wing has approached the principal chief conservator of forests, AP to obtain permission for a differential GPS(Digital GPS) survey to determine the length, width, breadth, and extent of the proposed ghat roads, the required acquisitions, etc. A proposal will be submitted for clearances after receiving the DGPS survey reports.