Amidst mounting concerns on the influx of floodwater through the Periyar, the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) authorities are busy completing the arrangements envisaged for accommodating the large number of devotees expected to throng the Aluva Manappuram to perform Vavu Bali on Saturday.
There are concerns over the conduct of the event at the regular venue though the TDB has come up with an alternative plan. Depending on the level of flooding at the Manappuram, it is planning to shift the location of Bali Tharpanam to the roads leading to the river bank.
TDB president A. Padmakumar said the engineering wing of the board was holding consultations with the Ernakulam district administration to take stock of the situation. “A review of the measures taken during floods on previous occasions is being made and all necessary steps will be put in place,” he said.
According to TDB officials, a clear picture will emerge after assessing the flow of water on Thursday night. As on Thursday evening, the entire Manappuram remained submerged and the situation is expected to worsen further.
Vehicle ban
TDB has auctioned off 41 balitharas this time, the venue of which will be decided only by Friday evening. As against the previous years, no traders will be allowed during the event, to ease congestion. Further, a complete ban on the entry of vehicles has been also imposed.
The rituals will get off to a start by 3.15 a.m. with the main celebrants offering a special pooja at the Siva temple here. The Bali Tharpanam is slated to begin at 4 a.m.
Apart from fire and rescue officials, a strong contingent of the local police will be pressed into service in the area, roads leading to there and in the nearby town. Rescue divers will be deployed at bathing ghats and TDB staff will be posted on special duty for coordinating the day’s proceedings.
To regulate the crowd, a police party will be deployed at the Aluva railway station and CCTVs will be installed at major junctions.
Traffic will be regulated in and around the Aluva Town between 4 a.m. and 12 noon during the day. As part of it, no vehicles will be allowed to the Manappuram from Thottakkattukara and Paravur junctions while a ban on parking of vehicles on both sides of the road between the two junctions has been also imposed.
All buses reaching the town from different locations have been rerouted to facilitate smooth flow of vehicles inside the town. Further, no vehicles will be allowed between Bank Junction and Mahatma Gandhi Town Hall.
