Work is under way at the mechanised Aravana plant at the Sannidhanam to add six preparation pans (vaarpu), two cooling chambers, and a boiler. The expansion will increase the plant’s daily production capacity by 85,000 to one lakh containers, taking the overall capacity to 3.25 lakh containers, TDB officials said.
The plant at present has 26 preparation pans, six cooling chambers, and six boilers, with a daily production capacity of two lakh to 2.25 lakh containers.
The expansion work is expected to be completed by October, following which the TDB plans to begin production of buffer stock for the Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season. “Plans are also in place to procure and stock sufficient raw materials for Aravana production, which will begin by the second half of October,” a source said.
The board is targeting a buffer stock of over 45 lakh Aravana tins ahead of the opening of the pilgrimage season in November. Aravana sales are a major source of revenue for the TDB, generating more than ₹180 crore during the previous pilgrimage season.
The production boost comes amid concerns over a possible shortage of Aravana, as witnessed in previous years. During the last pilgrim season, the TDB had to restrict sales to 10 tins per devotee after demand exceeded the plant’s production capacity.
Meanwhile, the TDB is planning to procure ghee from outside for Aravana production this year too, even as complaints over the quality of ghee procured from outside last year remain a concern. The board had awarded Milma a contract last year to procure 1.65 lakhlitres of ghee at ₹50 a litre.
The move comes against the backdrop of a decline in the buffer stock of ghee offered by devotees. Devaswom officials have attributed the decline to alleged irregularities in the distribution of ghee to devotees, coupled with increased sales of Adiyashishtam ghee.
Ghee brought by devotees varies in quality and is purified at a dedicated facility at the Sannidhanam before being used to prepare Aravana and Appam. Until four years ago, the TDB did not procure ghee from outside and relied entirely on ghee offered by devotees.