The Vigilance and Security wing of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has reportedly collected strong evidences showing large-scale ``fraud’’ in the preparation of Aravana at Sabarimala during the previous Mandalam-Makaravilakku festival.
In his letter (No. 50/TDB/Vig/2009, dated 19-2-2010) submitted to TDB through G.Rajagopal, Devaswom Chief Engineer who was also the chairman of the panel for regularisation of Aravana preparation method, the Chief Vigilance and Security Officer, P.Sugathan, has categorically hinted at large-scale ``pilferage of Aravana’’ worth a hefty sum from the mechanised Aravana plant at Sabarimala during the past few months.
Mr. Sugathan has conducted a detailed inquiry into the method of Aravana preparation at Sabarimala during the previous Makaravilakku season. He has established that ``not less than 1000 containers (250 ml each) of Aravana could be obtained from a single `koottu’.
According to him, the stipulated quantity of ingredients was not being used for Aravana preparation at Sabarimala during the previous pilgrim season. Ingredients like jaggery and rice used for Aravana
preparation were not being weighed or measured accurately, leading to decrease in the number of containers of payasam produced per every`kootu’, he adds.
The vigilance officer further detected unaccounted storage of a ``large quantity of Aravana payasam (66,577 containers) in the cooling chambers at the plant for illegal sale during the monthly pooja period.’’
High-level panel’s assessment
It is noteworthy that a high-level committee comprising the Special Commissioner appointed by Kerala High Court, Devaswom Commissioner, Chief Engineer and Chief Vigilence Officer had systematically assessed that not less 968 containers of Aravana of superior quality could be produced from every `koottu’ prepared at Sabarimala way back in 1999.
The TDB had also accepted the proceedings of the committee, fixing that 968 containers of Aravana could be obtained from every `koottu’ of ingredients for Aravana preparation (ROC No. 90/99/Sab, dated 2-8-2000). TDB had been unfailingly following the system since 1999.
However, the officials in charge of Aravana preparation at Sabarimala during the previous pilgrim season had claimed that they could obtain only 955 containers per `koottu’, leaving a shortage of 13 containers. As many as 11,500 `koottu’ of Aravana were prepared during the previous Mandalam-Makaravilakku season, leaving a shortage of 1,50,000 containers worth Rs 75 lakh.
Off late, the TDB has also resolved to write off the amount, after obtaining the mandatory clearance for the same from Kerala High Court, according to highly reliable Board sources. The Vigilance Officer’s letter says that ``the shortage of number of containers in the stock in all probability is to be considered as pilferage.’’
