Kerala HC Directs State and Devaswom Board to Speed Up Work on Biogas and Gas Cylinder Storage Plants at Sabarimala
The Kerala High Court on Wednesday (January 28) directed the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) and the State government to speed up the construction of a biogas plant and a gas cylinder storage facility at Sabarimala.
The order was passed by a Division Bench of Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V. and Justice K.V. Jayakumar while hearing a case taken up on its own based on a report submitted by the Special Commissioner.
Earlier, in an order dated October 8, the Court had said that the biogas plant was urgently needed. The Court was informed that the project had begun in 2019 and was being handled by the Socio Economic Unit Foundation (SEUF).
The Standing Counsel for the High Power Committee on the Sabarimala Master Plan told the Court that most of the work had already been completed. However, the remaining work could be finished only after the government approved funds of about ₹72 lakh.
The Court then asked the State government and the Devaswom Board to explain whether the delay was due to lack of funds. In earlier hearings, the Court had already directed the Board to take steps to set up the plant.
When the case was heard again, the Court noted that no claim of fund shortage was made. The Court directed the State and the Board to clearly state the time needed to release funds and complete the construction.
Regarding the gas cylinder storage facility, it was informed that the required no-objection certificate (NOC) from the Fire Department had not yet been submitted to the Ranni–Perunad Grama Panchayat. This has delayed the approval process.
The Court directed the Devaswom Board to complete the formalities quickly and submit all required documents so that the permit and construction can proceed.
The case has been posted for further hearing on February 13. The Government Pleader and the Standing Counsel for the Devaswom Board have been asked to report on the progress of the biogas plant construction.