Pathanamthitta: The state government has prepared a master plan of projects estimated to cost Rs 625 crore in toto for the development of Sabarimala in addition to enhancing basic facilities for pilgrims, especially those arriving from neighbouring states, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said here on Wednesday. He was inaugurating the ‘Pampa sangamam’ which was attended by the ministers from all southern states.
The government’s priority is to develop basic facilities at Sabarimala as part of raising the temple to a national pilgrimage centre. A Rs 100- crore project has been prepared for development of Erumeli alone. While it spent Rs 65 crore for development projects last year, another '40 crore will be utilised before the next pilgrimage season.
“We’ve offered five-acre land each to all southern states at Nilackal. Already states like Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have agreed to take over the land for setting up their rest rooms and similar facilities. We hope Andhra will follow suit next,” he said.
Tamil Nadu Finance Minister O. Panneerselvam said his government would allot land at Palani to Travancore Devaswom Board to set up facilities for Kerala pilgrims. “We’ll complete the construction of Tamil Nadu Bhavan at Nilackal on a war footing,” he said. Telangana Devaswom Minister A. Indrakaran Reddy too said his government would set up residential facility for pilgrims.
PWD Minister V.K. Ebrahim Kunju announced two new road projects – one from Enath along MC Road to Pampa and four-laning of Pampa-Nilackal road.
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