A section of the officials attached to the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) and contractors are responsible for the state of affairs at the famous pilgrim centre of Sabarimala, Forest Minister Benoy Viswom has said.
Talking to The Hindu , Mr Viswom said it was an irony that TDB officials thought of Sabarimala and the much sought-after master plan only on the eve of the annual pilgrim season. An unholy nexus between a contractor lobby and a section of the TDB officials has been marring Sabarimala development, he alleged.
Mr. Viswom, however, said the present temple administrative body was capable of busting this nexus and implementing various development projects at Sabarimala in a time-bound manner. The Minister said that he had found that all the three new board authorities were keen on implementing the master plan without any delay.
He clarified that the delay in the implementation of the master plan was not because of any objection raised by the Forest Department. In fact, he said, the department has been pressing for its implementation in letter and spirit. TDB officials should not put the blame on others, especially the Forest Department, for its failures and follies at Sabarimala, he added.
Mr. Viswom welcomed the new TDB team's decision to start work on various development projects at Sabarimala immediately after the close of the pilgrim season.
The Minister said an inquiry should be made to find out the lobby spreading a false propaganda that the Forest Department had opposed development of the Swami Ayyappan road used by tractors to transport goods between Pampa and the Sannidhanam. Development of this road has been specifically mentioned in the master plan, approved by the government after holding a series of discussions with various stakeholders. Mr. Viswom said the TDB could either concrete the road or lay interlocking blocks to make the road motorable, he said.
