TTD introduces sweeping reforms in Ghee procurement

Metro India News | AMARAVATI

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has initiated major reforms in the procurement of cow ghee used for preparing the sacred Srivari Laddu prasadam, aiming to restore and strengthen devotees’ confidence in the quality and purity of the temple offering. The new measures, introduced under the leadership of TTD Chairman B.R. Naidu and the newly constituted TTD Board, are designed to enhance transparency, enforce stringent quality standards, and eliminate any scope for irregularities in the procurement process.

The reforms come in the wake of criticism and doubts raised by devotees prior to 2024 regarding the taste and quality of the famed Tirumala laddu. Responding to these concerns, TTD undertook a comprehensive overhaul of its ghee procurement policy, introducing several structural and technological safeguards.

As part of the revamped system, TTD has significantly reduced the geographical procurement radius for ghee transportation from 1,500 kilometres to 800 kilometres to prevent deterioration in quality during transit. Additionally, all tankers transporting ghee are now required to be fitted with GPS lock systems, enabling continuous monitoring throughout transportation to ensure tamper-proof delivery.

TTD has also implemented rigorous quality testing protocols. These include mandatory evaluation of dairy production capacity through the MRL Score Board system, compliance with FSSR 2.1.8 regulations, milk fat purity testing under ISO 17678:2019 standards, and sensory quality assessment as per IS Code 7770:1975.

To prevent monopolisation and ensure competitive procurement, TTD conducted tenders in seven phases for the supply of 65 lakh kilograms of ghee for the 2024-25 period. Seven major dairy companies participated in the transparent bidding process. According to TTD, Karnataka Milk Federation’s ‘Nandini’ brand secured four tenders, followed by Mother Dairy and Indapur Dairy with two tenders each, while Sangam Dairy secured one tender. Premier Agri Dairy, Kolhapur-based Gokul Dairy, and Govind Milk did not qualify for tender allocation after evaluation.

Chairman B.R. Naidu stated that ensuring the highest purity and quality of laddu prasadam remains TTD’s foremost responsibility. In an official statement released through social media, he asserted that the entire tender process was conducted transparently and strictly in accordance with established norms, rejecting allegations of favouritism or irregularities.

Addressing claims that Nandini Dairy had been excluded, Naidu clarified that the company actually secured four out of seven tenders conducted since 2024, qualifying to supply 40 lakh kilograms of ghee, accounting for nearly 62 per cent of TTD’s total requirement. He also pointed out that between 2019 and 2024, Nandini had not secured any tenders from TTD.