TTD to Roll Out New Procurement Manual, Third-Party Certification
The decision was taken at a recent meeting of the TTD trust board, led by its chairman BR Naidu: Reports
TIRUPATI: Following detection of a series of procurement-related malpractices, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams would introduce a new procurement manual and make third-party certification mandatory for all materials purchased from outside agencies.
The decision was taken at a recent meeting of the TTD trust board, led by its chairman BR Naidu. The meeting reviewed the existing procurement and quality-check systems in the backdrop of cases involving adulterated ghee and fake silk dupattas.
The review found several gaps, prompting the trust board to initiate immediate corrective steps.
Members noted that the present investigation into the ghee adulteration case had revealed serious flaws in the supply chain, highlighting the need for a clear and uniform procurement system to ensure quality and accountability.
A TD official said the trust board felt that a comprehensive procurement manual was necessary to close loopholes. There, it felt, must be clearly defined procedures and strengthening of the supply chains in line with the norms of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India.
The aim, the official said, is to prevent adulteration and poor-quality supplies and to restore confidence in the materials used for temple-related services.
As per the resolution, the new manual will act as a guide for all purchases made by the trust. It will spell out procedures for product specifications, sample collection and handling, quality checks, supply agreements, delivery schedules, and technical and financial eligibility criteria for suppliers.
The new system will require compulsory third-party sample collection and certification, along with clear standard operating procedures for internal laboratory testing. All procurements will have to strictly follow FSSAI and other applicable rules.
This is the first time such a system would be enforced across all departments of TTD.
TTD spends approximately `700 crore every year on procuring nearly 300 different materials for temple rituals, annadanam, accommodation and other activities. Ghee alone accounts for an annual expenditure of about `70 crore, making it one of the most critical and sensitive items in the procurement chain.
The board also expressed serious concerns over inadequate warehousing capacity and the lack of modern storage practices, which it said posed risks to both inventory management and material quality.
As part of the reform package, the TTD trust board resolved to create additional warehousing facilities equipped with climate-controlled storage, scientific inventory management systems, automated monitoring of temperature, humidity and hygiene, digital tracking mechanisms, and fire- and food-safety-compliant infrastructure.
