The dismantling of iron barricades by the Forest Department at Marakkoottom on the Pampa-Sannidhanam trekking path in the Periyar Tiger Reserve has raked up a controversy.
Talking to The Hindu, G. Krishnakumar, executive engineer of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) said the dismantling of barricades would affect crowd management on the Sabarimala trekking path during the five-day monthly puja as well as on other important occasions at the Ayyappa Temple.
According to Mr. Krishnakumar, the TDB assistant engineer at Sabarimala had received a letter from the Forest Department on May 2, stating that the board should take steps to dismantle the barricades at Marakkoottom within the next four days.
In a prompt reply, the TDB works department had unambiguously clarified that, as per the directions of the Kerala High Court, any such matters should be taken up with the Chief Secretary and not with the board officials.
But, the Forest personnel have dismantled the barricades along the strategically important stretch of the trekking path without even consulting the TDB, he alleged.
He said the barricades were erected way back in 2008 and it had made no hindrance to wildlife movement so far.
Charge denied
M. Ajeesh, Forest Range Officer at Sabarimala, told The Hindu that the barricade dismantling was made on the basis of the
decisions taken at a high-level meeting convened by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) in April. High-Power Committee chairman K. Jayakumar and Devaswom Commissioner C.P. Ramaraja Prema Prasad were among those who attended the meeting.
He said the Sabarimala master plan was prepared by utilising the funds provided by the NTCA. It has raised serious concern over certain major violation of the guidelines prescribed for executing various development projects at Sabarimala situated in PTR.
Mr. Ajeesh said the barricades had been dismantled only along 100-metre stretch at Marakkoottom that had been identified as a key animal crossing point, especially during summer months when the wildlife wander in search of water.
He said the TDB could very well re-install the barricades prior to the annual Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrim season and dismantle them after the annual event as per the guidelines prescribed by NTCA.
