Kerala Chief Secretary Jiji Thomson has expressed hope that the work on the first phase of the sewage treatment plant (STP) at Sabarimala can be completed by May 31.
Mr. Thomson was talking to reporters after inspecting the STP worksite at Sabarimala on Saturday. He said the execution of a modern STP at Sabarimala situated in the Periyar Tiger Reserve, after overcoming many hurdles, was a great achievement.
He said the contractor had promised to speed up the project work so as to complete it at the earliest.
The Chief Secretary, accompanied by Devaswom Commissioner P.Venugopal; District Collector S.Harikishore, Assistant Collector Sreeram Venkitaraman, and Jolly Ullas, TDB Chief Engineer, reached Sabarimala on Friday evening.
Mr. Thomson offered prayers at the Ayyappa temple on Friday evening and Saturday morning. He said the government would give priority to long-term projects at Sabarimala.
The Chief Secretary’s visit was to take stock of the situation at the pilgrim centre in the wake of the Vishu festival, which begins on April 10.
He inspected the lower Thirmumuttom, Valiya Nadappanthal, flyover, STP worksite, Pampa hilltop, and the Nilackal base camp on Saturday.
The Devaswom Commissioner explained the pilgrim amenity projects envisaged as part of the Sabarimala Master Plan.
Mr. Thomson also called on temple chief priest Kandararu Rajeevararu at the Tantri Madhom on the temple premises.
