The Hindu Business Line : Pampa projects hit roadblock

The implementation of Rs 16-crore worth of projects under the Pampa Action Plan (PAP) in Sabarimala, to be taken up by the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), seems to have hit a roadblock.The execution of the projects, essentially for restricting pollution in the River Pampa during the pilgrim season, has been blocked because of alleged non-cooperation from the Forest Department and the Government.

Mr G. Raman Nair, President, TDB, told Business Line that the Board was to take up the projects such as construction of a new sewage treatment plant at Sabarimala besides expanding the capacity of the existing two plants. It had plans to set up 400 toilets for the pilgrims.

In fact, the development projects such as setting up of a cardiology unit, widening the trekking path with railings from Pampa to Sabarimala, construction of a resting place on this route etc, have been blocked by the Forest Department which has demanded the "approved consultancy's detailed plan," he said.

The State Government has to obtain and supply the detailed master plan, as it has already paid Rs 30 lakh to a Delhi-based consultancy firm, out of the total fee of Rs 50 lakh, he alleged. The TDB, he said, had implemented the first phase (short-term) projects as per the development plan supplied by the consultants, while it had rejected the future plans , which the Board felt would result in "commercialisation of Sabarimala," Mr Nair said.

He claimed that implementation of the projects under PAP did not require the sanction of the State Government as the Ministry of Environment and Forests had already approved the first phase of the project submitted by the State and 70 per cent of the total cost had been sanctioned by the Centre under the National River Conservation Programme.

He said that the hurdles being put up by the Forest Department had also blocked the construction of a new appam and aravana manufacturing unit at Sabarimala, based on the recommendations of the Justice Chandrasekhara Menon Commission and the Chief Electrical Inspector. They had recommended that the unit be moved away from near the sanctum sanctorum where it functions at present. This project, he claimed, was approved by the High Court also.

In fact, the creation of infrastructure facilities for the pilgrims in the 12.67 hectares of forestland allotted in the Periyar Wildlife area could not be undertaken now, he said.

Non-implementation of the first phase of the Pampa Action Plan (PAP) project, which was sanctioned by the Centre under the National River Conservation Programme (NRCP) over two years ago, has deprived the State of subsequent allocations besides delaying the cleaning of the river for the benefit of the lakhs of people living in the Pampa river basin.

The Centre had accepted the Rs 319.70-crore project, submitted by the State Government on December 19, 2002, to be completed in three phases, following the inclusion of the River Pampa in the NRCP in June 2001.

Subsequently, for the implementation of the first component of the project involving a total investment of Rs 18.45 crore the NRC Directorate had sanctioned its 70 per cent share of the cost Rs 12.91 crore in June 2003. Besides, a sum of Rs 75 lakh was also given as advance.

More Stories on : Infrastructure | Water | Environment | Kerala

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page