The Parliamentary Consultative Committee on Environment and Forests should meet at Sabarimala and that too during the annual Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrim season to collect first-hand information on the plight of pilgrims there owing to lack of proper amenities, Anto Antony, MP, has said.
Speaking to reporters at the Sabarimala Sukha Darshanam programme of the Press Club here on Monday, Mr. Antony, who is also a committee member, said he had already written a letter in this regard to the authority concerned.
According to him the previous meeting of the committee held in Goa had accepted his proposal in principle. The matter would be placed once again before Parliament during the next session, he said.
Mr. Antony said the Parliament panel meeting at Sabarimala would make the Union Minister for Environment and Forests, MPs and top officials of the Union Ministry properly aware of the grave need to improve the amenities at Sabarimala.
He said the Central authorities could personally verify Sabarimala’s limitations in terms of drinking water facility and availability of space in the event of a meeting at the holy hillock.
The MP stressed the importance of declaring Sabarimala a national pilgrim centre.
