Work on the modern Annadana Mandapam project at the Sabarimala Sannidhanam as part of the Sabarimala master plan has hit a roadblock with the Forest Department objecting to felling of five trees at the worksite.
In a letter to the Assistant Engineer of Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) at Sabarimala, Deputy Range Officer of Forests V. Satheesan has stated that he could not find any reference to the construction of an Annadana Mandapam in the Sabarimala master plan document.
Forest dept’s objection
Mr. Satheesan said no project work outside the proposed master plan was permitted at Sabarimala.
The letter, dated May 25, asks the Devaswom authorities to resubmit the application for felling of trees, along with the master plan reference and volume number showing the proposal to construct the Annadana Mandapam at Sabarimala, within five days.
Talking to The Hindu , TDB Executive Engineer G. Krishnakumar and Assistant Engineer G. Basanthkumar alleged that the Deputy Range Officer’s letter was an attempt to delay the Annadana Mandapam project, launched by the High Power Committee (HPC) for implementation of the Sabarimala master plan two years ago.
They said the Chief Conservator of Forests too was a member of the HPC that launched the project work at Sabarimala in 2015.
Sources said the Forest Department had given permission in writing for felling of 21 trees that stood at the site for the Annadana Mandapam, besides 47 other trees for constructing two queue complexes at Sabarimala in 2013. The TDB had remitted ₹7,00,878 on 28-10-2013 for felling the trees, Mr. Basanthkumar said. He alleged that the Deputy Range Officer’s action was suspected to be part of a hidden agenda to delay the project, and create confusion among officials.
TDB charge
The TDB engineers said the Forest officer’s letter questioning the Annadana Mandapam project comes at a time when the HPC and the board were making hectic efforts to complete the work well before the beginning of the annual pilgrim season in November.
This avoidable “delaying tactics” by the Forest Department would scuttle the government’s efforts to ensure better pilgrim amenities at Sabarimala, they said.
TDB Chief Engineer G. Muraleekrishnan has called for immediate intervention of the Chief Minister, Devaswom Minister and the Forest Minister to address the problem at the earliest.
