A District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) meeting chaired by District Collector P.B. Noohu here on Friday decided to remove before monsoon the huge deposits of sand at Pampa in the foothills of Sabarimala.
The DDMA took the decision on the basis of the Chief Secretary’s directive to remove the sand deposits that could lead to another deluge during the monsoon. Mr. Noohu said the sand would be removed invoking Section 34-D of the Disaster Management Act.
No takers for tender
Earlier, a high-level meeting held in Thiruvananthapuram had also decided to remove the sand deposits from Pampa. The government had fixed a price of ₹2,777 a cubic metre for the sand. The Forest Department had submitted a detailed report in this regard to the government. Though a tender was invited for sand removal, no one took part in the proceedings, according to an official statement.
A preliminary assessment has found that 2.5 lakh cubic metres sand has been deposited at the Pampa Manalpuram and surrounding areas.
Report before Tuesday
The DDMA meeting has entrusted Thiruvalla subcollector Vinay Goel with the task of conducting a quantitative survey of the sand deposit, finding a suitable location for removing the sand, and to make transportation arrangements in a time-bound manner. Dr. Goel has been directed to submit a detailed report to the Collector before May 14.
The Travancore Devaswom Board would transport 20,000 cubic metres of sand from Pampa to the Sannidhanam for development works at Sabarimala. However, the TDB could use the sand only on the directions of the government, the Collector said. The Regional Transport Officer has been asked to submit a report on the number of vehicles required for transporting the sand from Pampa to other locations.
The Police and the Forest departments would open temporary check-posts at Nilackal to monitor the movement of sand-laden vehicles, he said.
