Government will protect gold, jewellery of TTD: Endowments Minister

Amaravati: Endowment Minister Velampalli Srinivas stated the state government will take all measures to protect gold articles, jewellery, diamonds and other valuables belong to the TTD and it has been conducting physical verification of valuables every year in the presence of officials concerned.

The Minister replied to the questions raised by the members in the Legislative Council in the question hour on Thursday, the first day of the budget session. MLCs Janga Krishna Murthy, V Gopal Reddy, D Chinna Govinda Reddy and others raised the issue of gold and jewellery of the TTD and questioned whether the TTD is conducting regular audit on the jewellery and asked the procedures being followed by the TTD.

The MLCs have asked whether any discrepancies were noticed in the audit. Replying to the question, the Endowment Minister said 62 temples are under the control of TTD and the Devasthanam possessed over 3,450 gold, silver and diamond jewellery articles and announced that all are in safe position.

He said the TTD is conducting the physical verification of gold, silver and diamond jewellery once in a year regularly in TTD temples and the Deputy Executive office (Treasury and inventory) is visiting for verification of jewels. He further said the Deputy Executive officers, who are in charge of temple, should be present at the time of jewellery verification.

The minister made it clear so far no discrepancy has been noticed in the audit. He made it clear the TTD would take stringent action if any discrepancy is noticed. BJP MLCs Somu Veerraju raised the issue of TTD gold transported in Chennai and obstructed by the police during the elections. He said that TTD should take measures to protect the gold and jewellery.

He demanded that the TTD should spent more money for the spiritual activities. BJP MLC P Madhav demanded the government to appoint house committee to probe the gold transportation in Chennai.