The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) and the State government have an uphill task at hand for making proper arrangements for the smooth conduct of the annual pilgrim season at Sabarimala in the post-flood scenario.
The devastating deluge that had wreaked havoc at the main base camp of Pampa literally denied even drinking water and food to the visitors. No pilgrim could reach the temple during the monthly puja period in August.
A good number of electric posts have been uprooted and washed away in the flood. Three toilet complexes have been destroyed and the remaining latrine complexes on the Pampa Manalpuram have been inundated. The sewer lines, waterlines, septic tanks and other waste collection tanks have been heavily silted. The pump house of the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) still remains buried under huge deposits of sand.
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The Pampa Manalpuram and bathing ghats bear a haunted look with heaps of debris all around. The Annadana Mandapam and adjoining hotel complex too have been damaged. The ground floor of the Government Hospital at Pampa has been filled with huge deposit of sand. The TDB godown too has been inundated, destroying a sizable stock of jaggery.
Nilackal base camp
The TDB has decided to make Nilackal, 20 km away from Pampa, the main base camp. Pilgrims will have to park their vehicles there and proceed to Pampa and return to Nilackal in the KSRTC circular services.
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The saddest part of the present situation is that, except for the big announcements and loud promises, neither the TDB nor the government has made any preparatory arrangement for accommodating the huge crowd and their vehicles at the Nilackal base camp.
The authorities have not made a structural audit of the existing buildings at Pampa Manalpuram. The retro-setting of the Annadana Mandapam and the hotel complex is a major challenge. The Pilgrim Facilitation Centre inaugurated by the Devaswom Minister at Nilackal a year ago is yet to be made functional.
Vehicle parking
Pampa and Chalakkayam used to accommodate as many as 75,000 different category of vehicles and the TDB has to provide parking facility for at least this much additional vehicles at Nilackal. At present, the Nilackal parking lots could accommodate 25,000 heavy vehicles, board sources said.
Aravana production
The TDB godown at Pampa Manalpuram has been designed as per the Hazardous and Critical Care Point, ensuring healthy food standards for stocking jaggery brought for Aravana production. With the inundation of the godown, thorough cleaning and sanitisation have to be ensured before stocking jaggery there.
Bio-toilets, urinals
The sewage pumping lines at Pampa are in total mess and the authorities should take immediate steps to install bio-toilets and bio-urinals at Pampa. They have not yet started any effort to clear the silt accumulated in the waste collection tanks at Pampa Manalpuram and Cheriyanavattom.
The TDB is yet to take a decision on the Annadanam at Pampa and Nilackal. Annadanam at Pampa should be continued lest the pilgrims would be in trouble. The TDB has to start Annadanam at Nilackal too to cater to the food requirements of the large number of pilgrims camping there.
The organisational strength of various departments, especially police, too have to be reviewed.