In a classic case of locking the stables after the horses had bolted, the Tirumala-Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), the government-controlled body, which administers the celebrated Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirumala hills, is busy covering up electrical cables and wires sticking out and posing a threat to the lives of devotees who visit this shrine in huge numbers.
The TTD has embarked on this operation after the gruesome death of a 35-year-old woman and her year-old son when they suffered electrocution while standing in the queue lines on Monday, 27th October.
Eenadu, the popular Telugu daily, published about a dozen photographs of cables and wires sticking out dangerously in queue lines and other places frequented by devotees. The TTD has a separate engineering wing which looks after electrical maintenance. Sheer negligence, non-adherence to rules, lack of accountability, corruption, favouritism and nepotism were the ills plaguing the TTD administration, the newspaper said. It also published a photograph of railings being put around junction boxes following the accident.
The woman and the child from Tamil Nadu were electrocuted when they inadvertently came into contact with an unprotected cable sticking out of an electric pole, while they sought shelter in pouring rain. The TTD has sanctioned a sum of Rs. Eight lakhs (Rs. Four lakhs for each victim) to the family of the dead. It is now busy covering up evidence that might point out to negligence on the part of the authorities, Eenadu alleged.
According to the daily, the death of the woman and the child came on top of a series of incidents of pilgrims suffering from shock due to the negligence of TTD staff. The beleaguered staff, it is alleged, has been busy circulating rumours that the deaths were caused by the irresponsible attitude of the pilgrims themselves. This is being done to obviate any blame on the authorities for Monday’s tragic incident.
Eenadu reported that Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, had sought a detailed account of the incident, but the TTD had not bothered to submit a report even 24-hours later, as it was still looking for reasons that could deflect blame from itself.
The BJP, in the meanwhile, has sought the constitution of an inquiry commission to probe into the matter. Mr. N. Banuprakash Reddy, BJP convener, Tirupati, who visited the site of the accident, also called for strict action against those responsible for negligence and for measures to prevent such incidents in future. He also alleged that no action was being taken to prevent missionary activity on the hills.
The TTD employs about 9,000 people on a permanent basis, while more than 11,000 workers are outsourced. Most of its staff is in the supervisory cadre, while labour is outsourced. Monday’s accident was the result of negligence on the part of the highly-unionized permanent workforce, it is alleged. Would the TTD initiate action against the erring employees and incur the wrath of the powerful unions? This is the million-dollar question.
In a classic case of locking the stables after the horses had bolted, the Tirumala-Tirupati
Devasthanam (TTD), the government-controlled body, which administers
the celebrated Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirumala hills, is busy
covering up electrical cables and wires sticking out and posing a threat
to the lives of devotees who visit this shrine in huge numbers.
The TTD has embarked on this operation after the gruesome death of
a 35-year-old woman and her year-old son when they suffered
electrocution while standing in the queue lines on Monday, 27th October.
Eenadu, the popular Telugu daily, published about a dozen
photographs of cables and wires sticking out dangerously in queue lines
and other places frequented by devotees. The TTD has a separate
engineering wing which looks after electrical maintenance. Sheer
negligence, non-adherence to rules, lack of accountability, corruption,
favouritism and nepotism were the ills plaguing the TTD administration,
the newspaper said. It also published a photograph of railings being put
around junction boxes following the accident.
The woman and the child from Tamil Nadu were electrocuted when they
inadvertently came into contact with an unprotected cable sticking out
of an electric pole, while they sought shelter in pouring rain. The TTD
has sanctioned a sum of Rs. Eight lakhs (Rs. Four lakhs for each victim)
to the family of the dead. It is now busy covering up evidence that
might point out to negligence on the part of the authorities, Eenadu alleged.
According to the daily, the death of the woman and the child came on
top of a series of incidents of pilgrims suffering from shock due to the
negligence of TTD staff. The beleaguered staff, it is alleged, has been
busy circulating rumours that the deaths were caused by the
irresponsible attitude of the pilgrims themselves. This is being done to
obviate any blame on the authorities for Monday’s tragic incident.
Eenadu reported that Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, N.
Chandrababu Naidu, had sought a detailed account of the incident, but
the TTD had not bothered to submit a report even 24-hours later, as it
was still looking for reasons that could deflect blame from itself.
The BJP, in the meanwhile, has sought the constitution of an inquiry
commission to probe into the matter. Mr. N. Banuprakash Reddy, BJP
convener, Tirupati, who visited the site of the accident, also called
for strict action against those responsible for negligence and for
measures to prevent such incidents in future. He also alleged that no
action was being taken to prevent missionary activity on the hills.
The TTD employs about 9,000 people on a permanent basis, while more
than 11,000 workers are outsourced. Most of its staff is in the
supervisory cadre, while labour is outsourced. Monday’s accident was the
result of negligence on the part of the highly-unionized permanent
workforce, it is alleged. Would the TTD initiate action against the
erring employees and incur the wrath of the powerful unions? This is the
million-dollar question.
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http://www.theindianrepublic.com/tbp/locking-stable-horses-bolted-ttd-style-100052608.html#sthash.ojckN24K.SNYiS5de.dpuf
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