The Andhra Pradesh Sadhu Parishad has raised its concern over alleged land encroachments by the Visakha Sri Sarada Peetham in Tirumala.Members of the parishad, led by its president Srinivasananda Saraswati, took a round of the Visakha Sarada Peetham premises in Tirumala on Friday and said, “The Peetham has strayed from its spiritual mission and has become a commercial enterprise.”“This institution no longer provides free meals or conducts regular pujas,” Saraswats told the media.Saraswati alleged that while permission was granted for a four-story building, the Peetham exceeded the brief and constructed a six-story structure. Additionally, illegal constructions were carried out over an area of 10,000 square yards, he said.He also accused the Peetham of charging exorbitant rates for accommodation. He warned that if the encroachments were not removed, the Sadhu Parishad would take action to protect Tirumala’s sanctity.The Parishad members staged a protest in front of the Sarada Peetham, chanting Govinda Namas. They called off the protest after TTD authorities assured them that action would be taken by following court directions.Earlier this year, the AP High Court directed the Visakha Sri Sarada Peetham not to undertake any construction activity at Gogarbham in Tirumala until further orders. The court also appointed an advocate commissioner to investigate the alleged violations in the constructions at the site.
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