SABARIMALA: Taking a cue from the Central-State Governments' cleanliness drives, officials in Sabarimala have appealed for pilgrims’ participation in cleaning up Sabarimala with Pampa being selected as the focus area for this year.
The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has extorted all devotees to spare an hour of their pilgrimage to clean up the holy grove of Lord Ayyappa which generates around 125 tonnes of waste per day during the season.
Since 2011, around 10,000 TDB workers have in principle been devoting around one hour starting 9 am every day, for the clean-up of Sabarimala following a High Court order.
Last year, Sannidhanam was selected as the focus area under the programme named‚ “Punyapoongavanam” and this mandala season, the focus is on Pampa.
As per official estimates, an average Ayyappan brings around 3 kg of goods and offerings in the form of grain, ghee and coconuts and generates half a kilogram of waste.
“If this can be taken back home it will mean a lot for the pilgrim centre. No matter which agency initiates a clean-up drive, the sheer number of people who throng Sabarimala defeats all waste management programmes.
As per belief, each pilgrim is as holy as the Lord himself and is called a swami. Hence we cannot force restrictions on anybody and make it vital of everyone to clean the holy grove.
However, we appeal to them to refrain from dumping plastic and join the clean up drive”, said DIG P.Vijayan the nodal officer of Punyapoongavam project.
The Irrigation Department has warned officials of the rising number of discarded clothes that go into the Pampa river. Apart from this is the enormous quantity of waste discharged from Appam and Aravana units into the river.
The Rs 27-cr sewage treatment plant is yet to be fully functional to even remotely meet the needs at Sannidhanam which has around 50 sewage collection units which ultimately end up in the Pampa. In effect, Sabarimala doesn't have even the capacity to adequately manage the waste generated by the officials here.
