TTD EO Compliments DFO & Staff for Sanbalwood Plantation & Nakshatra Vanam

Tirumala, 12 March 2017: With an aim to overcome the shortage of Sandalwood and to make TTD self reliant in its produce, we have embarked on its plantation in 100 hectares of land in a record time of a period of one year and achieved our target, said TTD EO Dr D Sambasiva Rao.

After inspecting Sandalwood, Redsanders and Rosewood plantation in Paruveta Mandapam forest cover, the TTD EO speaking to media persons said, in 2013 we have started this programme in 12 hectares of land and in last one year's time we have extended it to another 88 hectares. In the next two decades, TTD will become self reliant in sandalwood produce that is required in its daily rituals", he added.

The EO also said, drip irrigation system has been enabled and to even the recycled water is best utilised for the growth of sandalwood plantation. "I compliment the DFO Sri Sivaram Prasad and his team for this extraordinary achievement," the EO said.

Later speaking on the summer arrangements, the EO said, Tirumala has sufficient quantity of water which would suffice the requirements of pilgrims for the next 200 days. "So there is no panicky about the situation at present", the EO said. Adding further he said, as a summer measure we have taken up white coolant panting in the important places, sprinkler water system in the four mada streets etc.