The Hindu Business Line : Sabarimala income, number of pilgrims register growth

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Kochi Jan. 25 The total income from the recently concluded Sabarimala pilgrimage season has shown an increase of Rs 16 crore over the previous season while the number of pilgrims visited during the season (Nov 16-Jan 19) shot up by 30-35 per cent, said Mr G. Raman Nair, President, Travancore Devaswom Board.

Last season, the total receipts stood at Rs 76 crore, Mr Nair told Business Line. "All through the season there was heavy rush and it is estimated that 32-35 million devotees arrived," he said.

Facilities

Considering the increase in the number of pilgrims every year, there is an urgent need to create adequate infrastructures to regulate the movement of the crowd besides providing them all essential facilities, he said.

The Chief Minister, Mr V.S. Achuthanandan, has convened a meeting of all parties concerned such as the Kerala Water Authority, Forests, Public Works and Health departments, Pollution Control Board and Ecosmart, the consultant firm which has prepared a master plan, he said.

All the issues including the environmental and ecological impact while implementing the master plan would be discussed in detail, he said.

The implementation of the Pampa Action Plan, under the National River Conservation Programme with Central assistance would be on top of the agenda as most of the components of the first phase of the project involving an investment of over Rs 16 crore would have to be implemented by the TDB at Sabarimala and Pampa.

Trekking path

Given the increasing number of the pilgrims year after year, construction of a `queue complex' at Marakoottam on the trekking path from Pampa to Sabarimala, as proposed by the TDB, has become inevitable to regulate the movement of devotees to Sannidhanam. It has to be in compartments where adequate health care facilities including cardiology units having 8 beds, oxygen parlours, first aid centres, facilities for drinking water and snacks, toilets etc. could be made available.

Development of the area needs to be done in such a way that it does not disturb the serenity of forests. All these projects could not be taken up last year because of the non-availability of a final master plan, he said.

Pending projects

The long pending projects under the PAP and are to be implemented before the beginning of the next pilgrim season are: 3MCD sewage plant at Sabarimala at Rs 2.40 crore and such a plant with a capacity of 1.5 MCD at Pampa costing Rs 1.20 crore; Sewage collection tank at Sabarimala and Pampa at Rs 1.94 crore; 300 latrines at Pampa, 400 latrines and 100 bath rooms at Sabarimala at Rs 2.3 crore; solid waste treatment plant at Rs 2.5 crore; setting up of drainages at Rs 1.3 crore and creating mobile latrines at a cost of Rs 1.4 crore .

The total cost of the projects is estimated at Rs 16.16 crore including provision for cost escalation etc, he said.

For implementing the first phase of the project involving a total investment of Rs 18.45 crore, the NRC Directorate had sanctioned its 70 per cent share of the total cost amounting to Rs 12.91 crore in Jun 2003.