With a view to addressing the environmental concerns during the ensuing Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season in Sabarimala, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has urged the pilgrims from other States to avoid plastic materials.
Addressing a meeting of Devaswom Ministers and senior officers from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Puducherry here on Monday to discuss the arrangements being made for the pilgrim season and the needs of the pilgrims from these States, Mr. Vijayan sought their cooperation to continue the plastic-free Sabarimala drive launched last year. Pilgrims should desist from the practice of abandoning clothes in the Pampa. They should also bring with them their identity cards.
National status
The government would ask the Centre to declare Sabarimala a national pilgrimage centre. Pilgrims from across the world reached Sabarimala and the national pilgrimage centre status would be helpful for improving the facilities there. He requested the south Indian States to set up control rooms at their capitals for better coordination between governments and departments. Access to the temple from Pampa had been widened to avoid rush, more prasadam counters would be opened, and darshan time too had been increased to ease the woes of pilgrims.
Treatment facilities have been enhanced.
Sewage treatment plant has been set up to avert water pollution. A high-level committee headed by Justice Siri Jagan too is taking steps to ensure a hassle-free pilgrimage. Resting places have been set up at every 50 km on the highways en route to Sabarimala jointly by the State government and oil companies.
Mr. Vijayan urged the Ministers to request their pilgrims not to travel in lorries and trucks to Sabarimala.
Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran said that the government had sanctioned ₹340 crore for the Sabarimala master-plan, which was the highest compared to previous years.
The Ministers and officials offered all support and cooperation to the proposals of the State government.
