The Hindu Business Line : Sabarimala master plan in limbo

Kochi June 22 Change of guard in the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) after the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) came into power about a year ago and the alleged rift between the new TDB President and the members have resulted in not awarding contracts for some of the projects aimed at creating infrastructure facilities for the Sabarimala pilgrims before the beginning of the next season in mid-November.

It was decided at a meeting convened by the Chief Minister some time back that work on setting up a cardiology centre at Neelimala on the steep trekking path to the Sabarimala Sannidhanam from the base of the hill Pampa should be completed before the next season.

Similarly, construction of toilets for the pilgrims near to the cardiology centre and facilities for garbage collection disposal were also to be taken up and completed.

Another important project, which was to be taken up, is the construction of a new Aravana complex. It will take about two years for completion. But still contract has not been awarded.

In addition, some of the projects, which were to be implemented by the Board under the Pampa Action Plan (PAP), are setting up of a sewage treatment plant and construction of toilets. Contracts for these projects are yet to be awarded too.

`DECISION SOON'

When contacted, a senior Board official told Business Line on Friday that all these works are at "contract stage" and a final decision would be taken by the Board at its meeting next week, called exclusively for this purpose. Land transfer by the forest department has been completed and now all the projects would be taken up as per the master plan of the Ecosmart for the development of the hill shrine, he said.

Since the southwest monsoon has set in, commencement of new projects and continuance of those under implementation would be difficult, he said, adding that all-out efforts would be made at least to complete the projects decided to be taken up at the CM's meeting.

The TDB had proposed long back to construct of a `queue complex' at Marakoottam on the trekking path from Pampa to Sabarimala to regulate the movement of thousands of devotees to Sannidhanam. It was to be in compartments with adequate healthcare facilities including cardiology units, oxygen parlours, first aid centres, facilities for drinking water and snacks, toilets. But, the delay in completion of the master plan, which has since been accepted by the government, and transfer of forestland had impeded the implementation of these projects.

For implementing the projects under the PAP, the board would have to bear only 30 per cent of the total cost as 70 per cent of it would be borne by the union Ministry of Environments and Forests under the National River Conservation Programme (NRCP). For implementing the first phase of the project involving a total investment of Rs 18.45 crore, the NRC Directorate under the ministry had accorded administrative approval and sanctioned 70 per cent central share of the total cost amounting to Rs 12.92 crore in May 2003. The first phase of the project, as per NRCD schedule, were to be completed by the end of 2006-07. Most of the projects in the first phase have to be implemented by the TDB as they are related to Sabarimala and Pampa.

The income from Sabarimala kept on increasing year after year and hence it might not be a problem for the Board to bear the cost of the projects under the PAP. The total income from the last pilgrimage season has shown an increase of Rs16 crore over the previous season while the number of pilgrims visited during the season (Nov 16 - Jan 19) shot up by 30 to 35 per cent, according to Board sources. During the last season the total receipts stood at Rs76 crore as against Rs46 crore three years ago, they said.

The Centre had accepted the PAP project involving a total investment of Rs 319.70 crore, submitted by the state government on Dec 19, 2002 to be completed in three phases following the inclusion of the River in the NRCP in Jun 2001, they said.

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