The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, which oversees the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Tirumala, has revealed fresh initiatives aimed at offering “safe, affordable, and prepackaged” drinking water for the numerous visitors to the hill town. In light of recent reforms implemented by the new government in Tirumala to enhance the pilgrimage experience, the TTD has decided to explore new avenues. A key focus for the TTD moving forward will be to ensure the quality and distribution of Anna Prasadams and Naivedya prasadams to devotees, along with maintaining high standards for water quality and hygiene in Tirumala.
Under the leadership of Executive Officer Syamala Rao and Additional EO Venkaiah Chowdary, the temple administration has mandated that all hotels in Tirumala acquire safety and quality standard certifications from the Food Safety Department. The attention has now shifted towards guaranteeing quality in packaged drinking water. Previously, steps were taken by the TTD to address plastic waste by prohibiting the sale of water in plastic containers and permitting the sale of packaged drinking water in glass bottles. However, devotees raised concerns regarding discrepancies in the deposit amounts collected for the glass bottles, leading to sporadic incidents linked to the use of glass containers.
Shopkeepers in Tirumala charge pilgrims varying amounts, ranging from 50 to 260 for a 750ml glass bottle of water, with a refund of 30 upon returning the bottle. Similarly, a 500ml packaged water bottle is sold for 40, with a refund of 25 upon return. “To tackle concerns related to safety, pricing, and more, we are exploring cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternatives for providing packaged drinking water to devotees,” a TTD official informed the Deccan Chronicle.
One potential solution under consideration is the adoption of compostable water bottles. These plant-based, plastic-free water bottles were recently introduced at the Srisailam Devasthanams. The manufacturer, Bio Elite, claims to be the country’s inaugural certified provider of compostable water bottles. “Discussions are underway with representatives from Bio Elite, and we are considering the possibility of implementing this system here,” the official added.
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