Tirumala to become plastic free by Sankranthi: TTD officials

Thirumala is gradually attaining the absolute purity of the Kalyuga Vaikuntha Dhamma which is a beacon of natural beauty. The Tirumala Tirupati Temple has taken measures to ban pollutants throughout the Tirumala premises. Freshwater and plastic bottles will be banned from the next Sankranthi. The daily activities of locals and traders along with lakhs of devotees coming to Thirumala is leading to wet and dry garbage. An average of 5.40 tonnes of garbage is generated per day. That means 162 tonnes of waste per month.

Officials found that 20 tonnes of plastic, 10 bottles of glass and sandals of 28 tonnes were also missing. There is also metal, ceramic, cardboard, food waste, flowers, biological and building waste. TTD focused on controlling the production of hazardous waste and recycling the rest. There is a ban on plastic in hotels. It has been decided not to allow even plastic bottles from Sankranthi.

Devotees from far-flung areas are bringing along branded water bottles for safe drinking water. This has become the worst of the two stairways along with Thirumala. The water filtration centres in the suburbs are being opened as a substitute