VIJAYAWADA: Authorities of the Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Temple in Vijayawada have taken precautionary steps to ensure the uninterrupted continuation of temple services amid concerns over a possible global gas supply disruption triggered by the escalating war situation in Iran.
Officials of the Sri Durga Malleswara Varla Devasthanam (SDMSD) atop Indrakeeladri have begun stocking up additional LPG cylinders to maintain the daily preparation of prasadam and the ongoing Nitya Annadanam scheme without any problem.
According to temple authorities, the temple requires an average of 30 gas cylinders every day for its routine operations.
Through the Nitya Annadanam scheme, the temple provides free meals to nearly 50,000 devotees visiting the shrine daily.
In addition, the temple prepares laddu and pulihora prasadam for around 50,000 devotees every day, along with the free prasadam in addition.
Apart from cooking for the Annadanam programme and prasadam preparation, LPG is also used for various other temple-related activities, increasing the daily demand for gas.
Overall, the temple consumes close to 1,000 LPG cylinders every month.
Temple officials said they decided to maintain sufficient stock of cylinders as a precautionary measure in view of the uncertainty in global energy supplies due to the ongoing conflict.
Speaking to TNIE, the temple stores Assistant Executive Officer (AEO) Venkat Reddy said that adequate gas cylinders are being supplied regularly by LPG dealers and assured devotees that there is no need to worry about any disruption in the temple’s services.
“It has been a regular practice of procuring gas cylinders from various gas dealers. As there is an ongoing crisis for LPG, we have taken precautionary measures to continue the daily operations smoothly. Additional cylinders were stocked along with the regular supply,” he said.
The authorities of the Kanaka Durga temple reiterated that all arrangements are in place to ensure the smooth conduct of Annadanam and prasadam preparation for the thousands of devotees visiting the temple every day.