Temple’s officers squarely blame forest dept for delay in queue complex project
File pic of pilgrims entering the Sannidhanam through the Holy 18 steps. The working of laying 'Krishnashila' will be done near here. (PHoto: DC)
Kochi: Located deep inside the Periyar Tiger Reserve in Pathanamthita district and surrounded by 18 hills, the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple draws millions of devotees every year. While each season records a 20 to 30 per cent jump in the number of pilgrims arriving at the temple, its infrastructure has failed to keep up.
At the fag end of the last season, Devaswom minister, V S Sivakumar and board officials had promised that at least four major projects included in the Sabarimala master plan would be completed in a year’s time. But the only project that has made some progress is the Rs 23-crore Sewage Treatment Plant, but it too is unlikely to be operational in time for the next pilgrim season that begins in a couple of months.
Many others like the Kunnar dam project, construction of a queue complex from Marakoottom to Saramkuthi, reconstruction of the Valiya Nadapandal , setting up of new prasadam counters and building of a ropeway have hit roadblocks.
Ask Devaswom Board president, adv M P Govindan Nair and he blames the Union government for the delay in implementing the Kunnar dam project, which is crucial to improving the catchment area at the mini dam and laying of pipes to augment water supply to Sannidhanam.
“Though the state government has sent its recommendations to the Centre, the Union environment ministry has not yet approved the project and this is delaying it,” he says.
The temple’s officers squarely blame the forest department for the delay in the queue complex project as it has not yet cleared the cutting of trees for it. “The three crore project requires cutting of 80 softwood trees and this needs clearance from the forest department. Despite the Chief Minister’s order to clear the project in a week’s time in August, there has been no progress. Now we expect the clearance in a week’s time,” says Sabarimala Executive Officer, Jayakumar.
As for the ropeway project, chief commissioner, K Jayakumar says while the terms of agreement with the Kolakatta-based Damodar Ropeways & Infra Ltd have been finalised, the temple is awaiting environmental clearance from the Centre.
The Valiya Nadapandal reconstruction project, which includes construction of another floor on the lines of Tirupati temple to help 12, 000 pilgrims lay ‘viri’ is limping along although there is no shortage of funds. Also, while the board has found sponsors for the new Appam and Aravana complex the work has still not begun on it.
“It’s not right to say that the projects have not taken off. The work has begun on most of them but there is delay due to various reasons. Now we have set a time schedule to complete each of the projects and devised plans to make this happen,” asserts Mr Govindan Nair, assuring that the pilgrims would not be inconvenienced in any way in the meanwhile. “We’ve given top priority to basic amenities. The contracts for maintenance works like laying of roads have already been awarded and will be completed before the start of the season. The actual road works will begin in a day or two now that the rains have stopped,” he adds.
If officials are to be believed, work on laying the ‘Krishnashila’ in the lower ‘Thirumuttom’ of the Sannidhanam will begin next week. Meanwhile, the delay in the projects was discussed in detail at a review meeting held by the Dewasom Board on September 11 at Changanur.
( Source : dc )
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