Kerala HC asks wildlife board to look into govt. plea

A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court on Wednesday asked the National Board for Wildlife to look into the State government’s request for permission to use forest areas to increase the height of the Kunnar dam to provide sufficient water for Sabarimala pilgrims.

The Bench comprising Justice Thottathil B. Radhakrishnan and Justice Anu Sivaraman issued the order when the government pleader brought to the attention of the court about the request to divert forest to raise the height of the dam. The court expressed the hope that the board would take appropriate decision before the festival season.

The government pleader told the court that a request had been sent by the Principal Secretary, Forest and Wildlife Department, to the Deputy Director, Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, New Delhi.

Additional water requirement In fact, around 9.5 mld of water was needed at the Sannidhanam and along the trekking route from Pampa to the Sannidhanam. About 6.5 mld of water could be sourced from the Pampa and one mld could be from the Kunnar dam.

The additional water requirement at the Sannidhanam was 2 mld. Therefore, it was necessary to increase the height of the dam for meeting the additional requirement by 2.5 metres, the government submitted.

Curbs onannadanam

Meanwhile, the court ordered that Annadanam at the Sannidhanam, trekking path, Pampa and Nilackel be arranged completely under the control of the Travancore Devaswom Board.

The Bench directed the State Police Chief and Chief Police coordinator for Sabarimala to ensure that other than the TDB, no other agency, institution or individual was permitted to conduct Annadanam.

The court also ordered the TDB to open a separate account for the Annadanam fund.

The court held that any individual or group of persons or institution which wanted to provide monetary support for Annadanam facilities was free to make their contributions.