Follow TTD on best practices: CM YS Jagan

Amaravati: Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy directed the endowments department officials to bring in best practices, from online system to preparation of quality prasadam, being implemented in TTD, in other temples in the state as well.

During a review at camp office on endowments department here on Monday, the Chief Minister instructed the officials to see that there would be no scope for corruption in the department, adding that it can be achieved by introducing online system in temples.

He said donors can contribute to any of the temples online and added that display boards can be set up with details of methods and procedures for online system.

He instructed the officials to ensure that donations are used for the development of temples and not diverted for other causes. The system in other temples should be similar to that of TTD.

Stating that revenue from temples should be spent on development of temples, he said focus should be on regular maintenance of temples.

For the first time, the state government has been spending nearly Rs 70 crore for developmental works at Kanaka Durga temple, he said.

He instructed the officials to focus on quality of accommodation and prasadam at temples. He instructed the officials to introduce the process of making laddus in Tirumala in other temples also.

He called for completion of formation of committees in temples so that monitoring of temples could be increased. He ordered preparation of master plans for all temples and action plans for development of other major temples, including Srisailam.

The Chief Minister told the officials to create awareness and provide training to temples executive officers on TTD's maintenance practices so that they can be replicated in other temples. Quality standards should be followed in maintenance of temples and infrastructure problems should be identified.

Stressing that auditing in temples should be transparent, he directed the officials to take help of TTD for digitization process like online booking, kiosks, QR code payments, online room booking system, etc., He instructed the officials to conduct survey and geo tag for temple lands to protect them.

The Chief Minister said the state government has installed over 47,000 CCTV cameras in about 18,000 temples for security and instructed the officials to install CCTVs at all temples.

He asked the officials to appoint an SP level officer for vigilance and security in the endowments department. The state government has quashed the retirement of hereditary priests and it will be implemented in all the temples.

Salaries of priests were also increased, he said while directing the officials to focus on allotting house sites to the priests.

Endowments minister Vellampalli Srinivas, land administration chief commissioner Neerab Kumar Prasad, revenue principal secretary (endowments) G Vani Mohan, TTD EO K S Jawahar Reddy and EOs of various temples were present in the meeting.