Sabarimala Review Meeting: CM V.D. Satheesan Directs All Departments to Complete Preparations Before Pilgrimage Season; KSRTC, Safety, Water and Pilgrim Facilities — Know More
Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan has directed authorities to ensure that all preparations for the upcoming Sabarimala Mandala-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season are completed before the pilgrimage begins, stressing that there should be no situation where preparatory works continue after the season has started.
The Chief Minister also instructed departments to ensure that there are no lapses in providing essential facilities and safety measures for pilgrims. He was speaking at a review meeting held in Thiruvananthapuram to assess preparations for the upcoming Sabarimala pilgrimage season.
The meeting, chaired by Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan, was attended by Health and Devaswom Minister K. Muraleedharan, Local Self-Government Minister K.M. Shaji, Public Works Minister P.K. Basheer, Transport Minister C.P. John, Chief Secretary Biswanath Sinha, DGP Ravada A. Chandrasekhar and Travancore Devaswom Board President K. Jayakumar.
Joint Control Room and Cleanliness Drives
Satheesan directed authorities to establish a joint control room involving all departments at Sannidhanam. He also called for special cleanliness drives at Pampa, Sabarimala and the edathavalams (pilgrim transit centres). Clothes left behind at Pampa should be removed regularly, he said.
Safety, Water and Infrastructure
The Chief Minister instructed officials to ensure adequate availability of materials required for prasadam distribution and to check the structural stability of buildings, fire-safety systems and electrical installations. Construction works at edathavalams being directly undertaken by the Travancore Devaswom Board should also be expedited.
He further directed authorities to ensure clean toilets, proper sanitation and adequate water supply. Parking grounds should not be left overgrown with vegetation. The Devaswom Board should provide accommodation facilities for police personnel, health workers and other government officials required to stay at Sabarimala during the pilgrimage season.
The Chief Minister also warned against installing barricades in a manner that could pose a danger to pilgrims.
Ministers Outline Major Pilgrimage Arrangements
Health and Devaswom Minister K. Muraleedharan said there should be no compromise in providing facilities for pilgrims who may have to wait for several hours at Sabarimala. He stressed the need for a system to ensure that all works are completed within the stipulated time.(sabarimalauptodate.in)
Public Works Minister P.K. Basheer said the department would undertake road construction works worth ₹551 crore. Transport Minister C.P. John announced that KSRTC would additionally operate 500 leased buses during the pilgrimage season. Local Self-Government Minister K.M. Shaji said local bodies were fully prepared to carry out sanitation and other related works.
Aravana Production Capacity Increased
The Travancore Devaswom Board informed the meeting that the production capacity of the Sabarimala Aravana plant has been increased, enabling the production of 3.25 lakh tins per day. The Board said it would have a stock of around 70 lakh Aravana tins when the season begins. A mechanised system will also be introduced for packing Appam.
Digital Services and New Pilgrim Facilities
The Board also announced a ₹2 lakh insurance scheme in association with LIC for the families of pilgrims who lose their lives during the pilgrimage. All activities related to the Sabarimala pilgrimage, including room bookings, will be digitised this season.
Housekeeping facilities will be introduced in rooms alloted to pilgrims. In cooperation with the Suchitwa Mission, a plant will be established for processing food waste. Toilet cleaning will also be strengthened, with 600 new bio-toilets to be installed.
Additional facilities, including a pandal, will be arranged for pilgrims at Nilakkal.
Police, Health and Security Arrangements
Police AI cameras will be installed at various locations in Sabarimala at a cost of ₹3 crore. Around 5,000 police personnel will be deployed during the pilgrimage season.
A 24-hour control room will also be established at the Travancore Devaswom Board headquarters. The Board said Sadya would be provided as part of the daily Annadanam.
Water and Rail Connectivity
Twenty-two emergency health centres will function during the season. The Kerala Water Authority said the commissioning of a new plant at Seethathode would eliminate the need to depend on tanker lorries for drinking water at Sabarimala.
Indian Railways informed the meeting that 300 additional train services would be operated during the pilgrimage season.
Awareness Drive to Stop Leaving Clothes at Pampa
The review meeting also decided to conduct awareness campaigns in other states to discourage the practice of leaving clothes at Pampa.
The next review meeting will be held at Pampa in October.
Officials from the Health, Local Self-Government, Finance, Police, Public Works, Revenue, State Disaster Management Authority, KSEB, Transport, Kerala Water Authority and Forest departments attended the meeting. The district collectors of Pathanamthitta, Kottayam and Idukki, along with representatives of Indian Railways, also participated.