No mass cow deaths at goshala, says TTD EO Syamala Rao, claims YSRCP govt gave poor fodder

Tirumala: Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams EO Syamala Rao dismissed the allegations made by YSRCP leader and former chairman of TTD Bhumana Karunakar Reddy that over 100 cows have died in the last three months in a TTD goshala due to neglect by the ruling coalition government in the State.

Addressing the media at the TTD Administrative Building in Tirupati on Monday, the EO said that the allegations by Bhumana Reddy are baseless and made with an intention to malign the reputation of TTD, thereby hurting the sentiments of scores of Hindus across the globe.

‘TTD vigilance report shows misappropriation’

The EO said there were a lot of corrupt practices being carried out at the SV goshala from March 2021 to March 2024, as detailed in a TTD vigilance report about SV Dairy Farm of Tirupati. With video clippings and data, the EO elaborated on the misappropriation that occurred at the TTD goshala during that period under the previous government.

Data on the number of deaths among cows at TTD

The EO highlighted some points refuting the allegations regarding the death of cows.

- The EO said that on average, nearly 15 cows die every month following their old age and some diseases as some donors donate such type of bovines to the TTD.

- In 2024, while 179 cows died in SV goshala, in January, February and March in 2025, around only 43 cows died because of age-related issues and diseases. “So far in this year, a total of 59 calves were also born,” he said.

“When the reality is like this, it is unfortunate that the former TTD board chief made such baseless allegations that TTD has ignored the fodder for the cows, no proper care taken which resulted in deaths of these cattle and many more,” the EO said.

The previous government gave unhygienic and poor-quality fodder

The TTD vigilance report clearly said that the negligence shown and the irregularities took place during the earlier regime in SV goshala, which includes unhygienic and poor quality fodder, illegal floating of fodder tenders, preventing a vigilance inquiry to suppress the cow deaths and many more, he added.

“If they are really concerned about the cows, then why have they not carried any investigation on all these irregularities during their regime. Only after the new director for SV goshala took charge, all these issues come to the fore and at present, we are correcting all the lacunae,” the EO said.

Adulterated ghee controversy

Earlier, the TTD EO said, since last June, many reforms were brought in TTD including enhancement of the taste of Annaprasadam and Srivari Prasadams, laddu quality, transparency in Seva, darshan tickets and accommodation, getting rid of the brokers by strengthening the IT Wing of TTD and transferring incompetent persons holding any superior posts.

“Adulterated ghee was procured for making the sacred Srivari Laddu Prasadams during their regime and we have cancelled those suppliers and blacklisted them,” the EO said.

Similarly, in the name of donating organic products for making Srivari Annaprasadams, a donor supplied Rs 5 crore worth of adulterated organic products and took the benefit of donor pass books for Rs 25 crore against norms, as there are no privileges in the TTD for kind donations. We have also taken note of this and cancelled the procedure, the EO said.

“Today, the devotees are expressing immense satisfaction at the taste and quality of both Annprasadams and laddu prasadams, and we are committed to protecting the sentiments of a multitude of devotees by bringing up more and more pilgrim-friendly reforms in TTD,” EO Syamala Rao said.