
TTD to deploy anti-drone technology to strengthen security at Tirumala temple
In a significant move to bolster security at one of the country's most revered pilgrimage sites, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Trust Board has approved the implementation of anti-drone technology around the Tirumala temple.
The decision was taken during a board meeting on Tuesday at Annamaiah Bhavan. TTD Executive Officer Shyamala Rao announced the key decisions during the board meeting.
Other decisions taken during the meeting included increasing the green cover on Tirumala Hills, developing the Temple development master plan, renaming guest houses in Tirumala, licensing canteens, developing the Akasa Ganga and Papavinasanam areas, supporting SVIMS superspeciality hospital, and establishing a transfer and retirement policy for non-Hindu employees.
Expansion of Annadanam services in Ontimitta, development of TTD Temple in Anantavaram, Thullur Mandal, AI rechnology development in TTD, employee promotions and improvement of cattle welfare in Goshala were also decided during the meeting of TTD.
Earlier, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) decided not to allocate lands adjacent to the sacred seven hills to private individuals, according to the temple authorities, to preserve the sanctity of this globally renowned spiritual destination.
According to the release, the TTD Board had previously resolved to exchange 24.68 acres of land located in Survey No. 604 of Peruru village, Tirupati Rural Mandal, owned by the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Authority (APTA), with an equivalent parcel of land owned by TTD in Survey No. 588-A of Tirupati Urban.
The release also stated that the TTD Board approved the exchange of an additional 10.32 acres in Survey No. 604 of Tirupati Rural, currently owned by APTA, for 10.32 acres in Survey No. 588-A of Tirupati Urban, owned by TTD.
The Board had requested the state government to expedite this exchange process.
Earlier this month, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu directed the officers of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) to ensure 100 per cent improvement in the services and facilities provided to the pilgrims and that every programme and decision should aim only at upholding the sanctity of the world-famous temple and the sentiments of the devotees. (ANI)

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Hans India
2 hours ago
- Hans India
My schooling was in BJP, college in TDP, working for Rahul Gandhi: T'gana CM
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy said on Sunday that he completed his schooling in BJP, college in Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and now he is working for Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. The Chief Minister recalled his recent conversation with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi during NITI Ayog meeting in the presence of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) President, N. Chandrababu Naidu. "The Prime Minister, while pointing towards Chandrababu Naidu, said that your friend is here. I told him, I studied in your school and his college and now working for Rahul Gandhi," he said. The Chief Minister was speaking at an event where Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya's autobiography "Prajala Kathe Naa Aatmakatha" (The People's Story is My Autobiography) was released. Revanth Reddy was with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) in his student days. He was an MLA from the TDP before joining the Congress in 2017. Stating that Governor Dattatreya is a person who has no enemies, the Telangana Chief Minister called him a role model for future leaders. The Chief minister extolled Dattatreya rising to the rank of Governor from Gowliguda galli (narrow street in Gowliguda area). He said that Governor Dattatreya maintained core values and never distanced himself from people despite adorning top positions during his entire political stint. The Chief Minister recollected his personal relations with the Haryana Governor and his close observation of the senior leader's political journey. He believes Governor Dattatreya at the state level enjoys the same stature which the former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had at the national level. Revanth Reddy said that every political leader admired Governor Dattatreya with the same respect even if he is not in power. The popular 'Alai Bhalai' programme organised by Governor Dattatreya every year has been receiving overwhelming response from all party leaders and it is a testament to the leader's statesmanship. Former President Ram Nath Kovind, former Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, Governor S. Abdul Nazeer, Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varma, Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy, Ministers from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, among others, addressed the event. Chandrababu Naidu called Governor Dattatreya a 'true gentleman' and said that people affectionately call him 'Dattanna'. CM Naidu added that Governor Dattatreya made a humble beginning as an ordinary BJP activist and went on to emerge as a national leader. He said Governor Dattatreya participated in several movements and has risen up in public life facing all odds. The TDP President was all praise for the Haryana Governor for upholding secularism and for bringing all sections of the society together with his annual programme 'Alai Bhalai'.


United News of India
2 hours ago
- United News of India
Cong dismantled simultaneous polls to retain power: Anil Antony
Bengaluru, June 8 (UNI) BJP leader Anil K Antony on Sunday launched a pointed attack on the Congress party, accusing it of derailing India's once-successful system of simultaneous elections for political gain. Supporting the Centre's push for the 'One Nation, One Election' initiative, he said the practice functioned smoothly until it was disrupted by the Congress government under Indira Gandhi after 1967. 'From 1951 to 1967, India conducted Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections together, ensuring stability and good governance,' Antony said at a policy forum here. 'But this changed when Mrs Indira Gandhi came to power. In the following three years, several non-Congress governments were dismissed, and political manipulation led to the collapse of the synchronised election cycle. By the late 1970s, the system had been completely derailed.' Calling this disruption a "self-serving move" by the Congress to retain power, Antony argued that decades of disjointed elections have since burdened the country with administrative delays, fiscal strain, and reduced governance efficiency. He cited the 2023 report of the High-Level Committee chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind, which strongly recommended synchronised elections. 'According to the report, implementing 'One Nation, One Election' can boost India's GDP by 1.5% annually — equivalent to ₹4–7 lakh crore — which is nearly 50% of our healthcare budget and one-third of our education budget,' he said. Antony highlighted the heavy toll of India's year-round election cycle. 'In the last 30 years, there hasn't been a single year without elections. Due to the frequent enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct, governance comes to a halt for almost five months every year. State and national leaders are in permanent campaign mode instead of focusing on development.' He said that restoring the synchronised election system is not a political move but a nation-first reform aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of making India a developed nation by 2047. 'This isn't about BJP. Even in 1983, the Election Commission — under a Congress-led government — said India should return to joint elections. Our founding leaders like Atal Bihari Vajpayee and LK Advani supported this idea in the 1980s. It's about bringing back stability,' Antony said. Citing India's rapid rise from a $2 trillion economy in 2014 to the verge of becoming a $5 trillion economy, Antony argued that electoral reforms are essential to sustain and accelerate this growth. 'We are now the fastest-growing digital economy. The startup boom in cities like Bengaluru — from just 500 startups in 2014 to over 1.25 lakh today — shows the kind of momentum we've built. Reforms like One Nation, One Election will ensure that governance keeps pace.' The High-Level Committee's consultations with lakhs of citizens and experts led to an 800-page report submitted to the President of India, affirming the economic, administrative, and democratic benefits of the reform. Among the members were Union Home Minister Amit Shah, former J\\\\\\\\&K CM Ghulam Nabi Azad, and legal luminary Harish Salve. Asserting that the initiative will 'increase democratic participation, improve administrative efficiency, and reduce unnecessary public expenditure,' Antony urged all stakeholders to support the move. 'Synchronised elections will free the government from continuous electoral distraction and unleash the full potential of governance. It's time to correct the mistake Congress made decades ago and put the nation back on a stable, growth-focused track,' he said. UNI BDN SSP
&w=3840&q=100)

First Post
3 hours ago
- First Post
New storm brewing in Asia? Thailand closes border to tourists amid clashes with Cambodia
Thailand on Saturday closes two of its key borders to tourists after clashes with Cambodia. Here's what both sides are saying about the situation. read more At least 28 people have been killed since 2008 during military skirmishes along the border. AFP On Saturday, Thailand shut down two of its border crossings for tourists as a safety measure amid brewing tensions with its neighbouring nation, Cambodia. The Thai authorities announced the move following the killing of a Cambodian soldier during a brief military clash on May 28 in an area known as the Emerald Triangle. What makes the region significant is that here is where the borders of Thailand, Cambodia and Laos meet. It is important to note that Thailand and Cambodia share an 817 kilometre (508 mile) border, first mapped by France in 1907 when Cambodia was its colony. For decades, the two Asian neighbours have disputed various undemarcated points along the frontier. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The full-scale fighting between the two nations first broke out in 2008. Interestingly, the fight was over an 11th-century Hindu temple, and the clashes ultimately led to sporadic violence over several years. In 2013, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that the disputed area belonged to Cambodia. However, Thailand says it does not accept the ICJ's jurisdiction and seeks a bilateral settlement. What is Thailand's take on the matter? In a statement on Saturday, authorities in the eastern province of Chanthaburi said that they had 'temporarily suspended' crossings by Thai and Cambodian tourists at two permanent border checkpoints. Soon after this, the Royal Thai Army cited a threat to Thailand's 'sovereignty and security' as the reason behind the move. The army made it clear that trade would be unaffected, and Cambodian workers could still be allowed to enter Thailand. Apart from this, six other border checkpoints tightened their opening hours and issued bans on six-wheeled vehicles. In a separate statement, Thai Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said the army had reinforced its military presence at the border in light of increasing deployment on the other side of the border. 'There has been a reinforcement of military presence [by Cambodia], which has exacerbated tensions along the border,' Phumtham, who is also deputy prime minister, said in a statement. 'Consequently, the Royal Thai Government has deemed it necessary to implement additional measures and to reinforce our military posture accordingly,' he added. On Friday, Thailand's army made it clear that it is ready to launch a 'high-level operation' to counter any violation of Thailand's sovereignty. The Thai Foreign Ministry later said on Saturday that the country was committed to holding bilateral talks with Cambodia on June 14 to resolve the dispute. What has Cambodia said? Meanwhile, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said in an address on Saturday that his country's stance was 'not to initiate conflict, but to defend ourselves.' Earlier this week, Hun said that the kingdom would file a complaint with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over the border dispute. As of now, the two neighbours had agreed to ease tensions following last month's killing, but Cambodia eventually said that it would keep its troops in the area, in defiance of a request by Bangkok. In light of this, the Southeast Asian regional bloc ASEAN and China have both made efforts to reduce tensions in recent days. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD