Climate emergency: Tirumala dams drying up due to deficient rainfall; TTD appeals for water conservation

Tirupati: Due to deficient rainfall, the dams are fast drying up in Tirumala.

Official estimates reveal that the water in the reservoirs can last for 130 days only.

Waking up to the crisis, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) has requested devotees and locals to avoid wastage of water atop the hill.

"The water available in the five prime dams at Tirumala has been assessed to meet the needs of the locals and pilgrims at the Hill Town, Water will suffice for the next 120-130 days," said the statement released by TTD.

With annual Brahmotsavams scheduled from October 4 to 12, TTD has appealed to devotees as well as locals to avoid wastage of water. During this nine-day festival, there would be Vahana Sevas in the morning between 8 am and 10 am and in the evening between 7 pm and 9 pm every day (except on October 4). Lakhs of devotees visit Tirumala to witness the festival.

"We are contemplating some measures towards the regulation of the water consumption if the extraordinary situation persists in the next few months," said the TTD officials.

As per the TTD officials, every day nearly 43 lakh gallons of water are being consumed in Tirumala out of which 18LG are procured from the Tirumala dams and remaining from the Kalyani Dam located in Tirupati.

The total storage capacity of the Gogarbham, Akasa Ganga, Papa Vinasanam, Kumaradhara, and Pasupudhara dams in Tirumala is 14,304 lakh gallons, Only 5800 lakh gallons is presently available.