Facilities for bali ritual

The State government will make all facilities for devotees to offer Karkidaka Vavu Bali on August 14 at the Thiruvallam Sree Parasurama temple, Chief Secretary Jiji Thomson has said.

Taking into account the growing number of devotees visiting the temple every year, the government was contemplating taking over a few islands located on the river banks to provide additional facilities. The isolated locations on the river bank could be utilised for parking vehicles of devotees. The Travancore Devaswom Board had made an attempt earlier to take over the land but it did not yield results.

Land acquisition

The government would make a fresh attempt to take over the land using new land acquisition laws after providing fair compensation, he said, after visiting the place. He reviewed construction of new ghats and sanitation projects.

Meanwhile, Health Minister V.S. Sivakumar held a meeting to review preparations for the bali ritual at Thiruvallam, Shanghumughom, Aruvikkara, Thrivikramangalam, Kadhinamkulam, Aluva, Thirumullavaram and Thirunelli.