TTD BOARD CHIEF AND MEMBERS INSPECTS KAKULAKONA

TIRUMALA, MARCH 20:  The Chairman of TTD Trust board Sri K Bapiraju along with TTD EO Sri MG Gopal and other board members inspected the Kakulakona area in Seshachalam ranges on Thursday which was burnt to ashes due to the massive forest fire that scorched on Wednesday.

Later speaking to media persons, TTD Chairman said, of the vast land in Seshachalam ranges, TTD forest cover only spread in 6004 acres. As per the last reports reaching TTD, nearly 460 hectares of forest cover was charred to ashes in the fire mishap. In fact with this incident, TTD is now contemplating for a permanent solution to see that such incident will not get repeated in future”, he added.

He also said, a similar fire mishap took place couple of years ago near forest cover in seventh mile. But however, this time it is a massive blaze. “We are negotiating with the Wild Life and Reserve Forest Area officials also to permit TTD to construct ring roads and stretches with in the forest cover to avoid such mishaps in future. Today four copters already reached Tirumala and their survey operation is underway. These copters are lifting around 5000litres of waters from KP dam to arrest the fire in interior forests which erupted between Papavinasanam and Tumburukona area”, he maintained.

The Chairman also thanked the Honourable Governor of AP, Chief Secretary, Defence Ministry and others for their support and co-operation in handling the issue and also complimented TTD EO, other officers and staff members for their timely measures to check the forest fire from spreading to Tirumala Forest cover. He said, about 100 army men belonging to 25th Rajastan Battalion from Chennai, about 40 naval personnels from Arakonam and Visakha naval base apart from fire fighting experts from Chittoor, Kadapa and Nellore fire range offices landed in Tirumala for the operation.

TTD EO Sri MG Gopal said TTD is planning for a long term plan with national and international standards in the interests to protect the ecology of Seshachala ranges and the township of Tirumala where the world famous shrine of Lord Venkateswara is located. “We need to develop a protection stretch and a buffer area to prevent such forest fire threats”, he added.

Board Members Sri Siva Prasad, Sri Kannaiah, Sri Ravindra, Sri Venkatramana and other senior officers were also present.

Earlier in the board meeting which held at Annamaiah Bhavan, the TTD Chairman, EO and other members discussed only on the preventive measures taken regarding forest fire mishap.

ISSUED BY TTDs PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER, TIRUPATI