The district administration has taken steps to clear the filth accumulated in Pampa with the help of volunteers attached to Mata Amrithanandamayi Madhom and Akhila Bharatha Ayyappa Seva Sanghom, said Mr P.Venugopal, District Collector.
Talking to The Hindu here on Friday, Mr Venugopal said Swami Amruthaswaroopananda Puri of Mata Amrithanandamayi Madhom has promised to deploy 100 volunteers for two days for removing the solid waste accumulated on the riverbed of Pampa along the bathing ghats in the foothills of Sabarimala.
The Collector said the idea was to carry out an intensive cleaning drive at Pampa on March 25 and 26 with a view to clean the bathing ghats and the base camp prior to the beginning of the 10-day annual temple festival that begins on March 27. The ABASS sanitation workers too would join the cleaning programme, he added.
The Hindu had reported the sorry state of affairs with the river Pampa the other day due to drastic depletion of the water level in the river, exposing the stinking filth accumulated ion the riverbed during the Makaravilakku festival season that came to a close on January 21.
The riverbed along the bathing ghats, especially in the close vicinity of the Aratt kadavu, has been turned into a mucky bed of all sorts of stinking filth owing to the criminal negligence on the part of the Travancore Devaswom Board in its safe disposal.
The summer showers are sure take this hazardous filth to the downstream reaches of Pampa, posing alarming health hazard to the millions of people residing on its banks. As many as 25 drinking water supply schemes are situated in the down stream reaches of river Pampa.
A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court, comprising Justice Thottathil B. Radhakrishnan and Justice C.T. Ravikumar, had directed the Irrigation wing of the Water Resources Department on Wednesday to take immediate steps for removal and safe disposal of the waste, ensuring free flow in the river.
The Court had also directed the authorities concerned to make necessary arrangements for the smooth conduct of the forthcoming annual Vishu festival at Sabarimala.
Security arrangements
The Collector said steps have also been taken to deploy sufficient strength of police personnel at Sabarimala and Pampa during the annual festival as well as the Vishu festival periods.
The Police department would make special security arrangements at the Ayyappa Temple complex as well as Pampa, he said. Police force would be deployed in five sectors.
Mr Venugopal said Kerala Water Authority has been asked to ensure uninterrupted drinking water supply to Sabarimala and Pampa during the festival periods.
The Irrigation department would carry out the repair and maintenance of the Aratt kadavu on a warfooting basis. Health department would open cardiology centres at Appachimedu and Neelimala, besides the Government Hospitals at Pampa and Sannidhanam, the Collector said.
