TIRUPATI: A row over protocol between officials of Tirupati airport and Tirupati municipal corporation has drawn the attention of the Union civil aviation ministry.
Sources said the spat first began when Tirupati airport officials allegedly denied passes to some government officials, who accompanied deputy mayor Bhumana Abhinay Reddy to receive municipal minister Botcha Satyanarayana on January 9.
Following a brief argument, Abhinay Reddy and his entourage received the minister and left the airport.
'Supply suspended due to repair work'
According to Tirupati airport director S Suresh, the next day water supply was suspended to the airport and airport staff quarters. When they contacted municipal officials, they were told that water supply was suspended due to some maintenance issues.
Opposition TDP and BJP, however, alleged that water supply was cut off in an act of vengeance. Meanwhile, BJP MP G V L Narasimha Rao wrote a letter to Union civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia demanding an inquiry into the episode. Municipal officials have clarified that the incident was being blown out of proportion.
They said Tirupati airport did not obtain an underground drainage supply connection, which led to water contamination, which led to suspension of water supply for repairs. The airport director later confirmed that water supply was restored.
