'Operation cleansing' TTD started, devotees complimenting Tirupati laddu quality improved: Chandrababu Naidu

Hyderabad: Even as the dust around the Tirupati laddu row is yet to settle, chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu said on Saturday there is no question of compromising on the quality of Prasadam of Lord Venkateswara and that the state government has already started operation cleansing in the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD).

After inaugurating the Vakula Matha Vantasala (kitchen) atop the Tirumala Hills, built at a cost of Rs 13.4 crore, the chief minister said on Saturday that the opinion of the devotees too will be gathered while implementing certain new guidelines after the cleansing operation.

Naidu was in Tirumala to take part in the annual Brahmotsavams which began on Friday. On Friday, he had offered Pattu Vastrams- Silk robes on behalf of the state government to Lord Venkateswara. On Saturday, he had taken part in several programmes atop Tirumala and also reviewed the activities of TTD with the officials.

Stating that he is happy to inaugurate the Vakula Matha kitchen through which Anna Prasadam can be supplied to as many as 1.25 lakh devotees, he said that food can be prepared for 18,000 devotees in just half-an-hour.

With the modern kitchens of the Vengamamba, the Akshaya and the Vakula Matha Anna Prasadam can be supplied to three lakh devotees, the Chief Minister said. "There is no question of compromising on the quality of Psadamas and all necessary steps will be taken right from the raw material till the Prasadam comes out of the kitchen," Naidu told reporters.

Maintaining that no person in the world could copy the quality of the Prasadam of Lord Venkateswara, he said that the Prasadam has every patent rights. "There is a speciality for the laddu, Mysorepak and Vada," he added.

The CM pointed out that the percentage of greenery now on the Tirumala Hills is 72 and felt that there is every possibility that it can be taken to 90 per cent. "All the necessary steps will be taken to provide a peaceful environment atop the Hills and the Prasadam will strictly be as per the sentiments and traditions of devotees," Naidu said.

He also made it clear that capacity building will be made for the Sevas of the Lord and said that the state government will initiate all the steps to get the past glory to Tirumala. Directions have already been issued to the TTD officials to take steps to see to it that the sanctity of this globally-renowned pilgrim centre does not get harmed anytime anywhere.

"Soon after I get up from the bed and whenever I face any kind of problem I think and admire Lord Venkateswara. Those who are in service atop the Hills and all the devotees coming to have a darshan of the Lord should be in a completely sacred condition," the chief minister said.

Recalling that the Anna Danam was launched during the late N T Rama Rao regime with two to three thousand devotees per day, Naidu said that it has now gone up to three lakh devotees per day.

Directions have also been issued to the TTD officials to ensure that the queue lines too are properly managed, Naidu said that the pilgrims are now happy with the quality of Prasadam and the TTD management.