TIRUPATI: The premises of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) choultry
has turned into a swamp of drain water causing an ordeal to pilgrims.
Thousands of people visiting the adjacent railway station everyday are also facing hardship due to unbearable stench emanating from the swamp.
As part of renovation of the choultry, the TTD engineering wing had taken up earth works a few months ago. A vast portion of the ground was dug up to do cement flooring. The earthmover deployed for the work accidentally demolished
the wall of an adjacent drain, resulting in inundation of the premises with sewage water. The very next day, the temple town received a torrential rain further worsening the situation. As it is a free amenity centre, poor pilgrims stay in the
choultry during their pilgrimage to Tirumala. The poor pilgrims are falling sick due to stench from the swamp on the choultry premises. Despite several complaints from pilgrims staying in the choultry and people visiting the railway station, the TTD authorities have failed to spruce up the premises
after draining out sewage water. Speaking to `Express’, Srinivas, a pilgrim from Vizianagaram, said: “The TTD which is promoting spiritualism in a big way, should also focus on hygiene which is more important.’’ “Till now we are only appealing to the TTD to give priority to Sarva Darshan by reducing VIP Darshan time. Henceforth, we will be forced to demand provision of basic
amenities to common pilgrims staying in choultries, if the TTD fails to spruce up the premises,’’ said TS Prakash, a pilgrim from Nizamabad.