Sabarimala has registered a record revenue collection in the past 39 days of the Mandalam pilgrim season, which will come to a close on Saturday, Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president M.P. Govindan Nair has said.
He was talking to presspersons at Sabarimala on Friday.
Mr. Govindan Nair said the total revenue collection at Sabarimala as on Thursday evening was Rs.141.64 crore against Rs.127.62 crore during the corresponding period last year.
Mr. Nair said the revenue through the sale of Aravana during the past 39 days had crossed Rs.54.31 crore against Rs.50.38 crore during the corresponding period last year. He said the Hundi collection was Rs.54.17 crore as on Thursday evening against Rs.47.29 crore during the previous Mandalam season.
Appam sale The TDB revenue by way of Appam sale during the past 39 days was Rs.10.32 crore, he said.
More forestland sought
The TDB chief said the board had sought an additional of 500 ha of forestland in the Periyar Tiger Reserve for Sabarimala development. He said the board had only six hectares of land in its possession at Sabarimala.
He said the TDB leaders were trying to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi raising this demand. Subhas Vasu, TDB member, and V.S. Jayakumar, Executive Officer, were present.