Tirupati: Deputy chief minister K E Krishnamurthy said that farmers are voluntarily coming forward to part with their lands as part of 'land pooling' for the new capital and that 2,600 acres were acquired by the state government after the onset of the New Year on January 1.

The deputy chief minister was on a two-day visit to Tirupati offered prayers to Lord Venkateswara here in the early hours on Sunday. Officials and priests of temple accorded a traditional welcome to the Dy CM on his arrival at the entrance of the Tirumala temple. The DyCM along with his family members worshipped Lord Venkateswara inside the sanctum sanctorum.

Later at the Ranganayakula mandapam, priests of temple rendered Vedasirvachanam to him as the TTD officials offered Lord's prasadams.

Speaking to media persons outside the temple, Krishnamurthy said that 'Land pooling' for the new capital was picking up momentum in the last few days.

Despite the efforts of the YSRC in trying to mislead the people, farmers are voluntarily coming forward to part with their lands to build a world class capital as envisaged by the government.

Clarifying media persons, he reiterated that the state government was paying the best compensation package to the farmers voluntarily coming forward to part with their lands.

Meanwhile, Dy CM and his family members also offered prayers to goddess Padmavathi at the Tiruchanoor temple later in the day. The Dy CM who wound up his two-day visit to Tirupati returned back to the state capital on Sunday.