Akhila Bharatha Ayyappa Seva Sanghom national vice-president D.Vijayakumar has urged the new government to take effective steps to ensure a safe pilgrimage for all devotees visiting Sabarimala.
In a statement here on Wednesday, Mr. Vijayakumar said lack of coordination among government departments and the Travancore Devaswom Board was a major problem at Sabarimala during the previous pilgrim season.
The stampede at Pulmedu that claimed 102 lives on the Makaravilakku day on January 14 was a testimony to the inept management of the pilgrim season, he alleged.
Mr. Vijayakumar said almost double the population of the State visited Sabarimala in a span of 62 days, from mid-November to mid-January, every year and the government was bound to ensure their safety.
Pilgrims coming to Sabarimala required only a modicum of facilities at the holy hillock. A soulful ‘darshan' of the deity was their only demand and the TDB should take steps in this regard, the ABASS leader said.
According to him, ABASS volunteers are happy to extend every possible support to the temple administration and the government for the smooth conduct of the Sabarimala pilgrimage.
Mr. Vijayakumar said the Sanghom had been recruiting workers from Tamil Nadu for the Sabarimala Sanitation Society to undertake the cleaning drive at Sabarimala during the annual pilgrim season for the past 18 years.
He said the government and the TDB should launch preparations for the smooth conduct of the pilgrim season without delay.
