The Hindu : Kerala News : TDB to shift `aravana', `appam' units to Pandithavalam

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Apr 15, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

TDB to shift `aravana', `appam' units to Pandithavalam

By Our Staff Reporter

PATHANAMTHITTA, APRIL 14. The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president, N. Babu, has said that the `aravana' and `appam' packing units at Sannidhanam would be shifted to Pandithavalam, near Malikapuram, before the next annual Mandalam-Makaravilakku season.

Dr. Babu was addressing a press conference at the Devaswom Guest House at Sabarimala Sannidhanam today.

According to him, the decision to shift the units had been taken on the basis of an expert committee report following the outbreak of fire at the Aravana godown at Sannidhanam on January 5.

Dr. Babu said that the TDB would initiate projects to provide maximum possible basic pilgrim facilities at Sabarimala through effective utilisation of the available space at Sannidhanam by November.

He said that the Devaswom Executive Office at the Thirumuttom (temple precincts) would be shifted to the vacant Prasadam complex at the Lower Thirmuttom once the aravana unit was shifted.

The TDB Chief Engineer, K. Ravikumar, said that the proposed Prsadam preparation and packing complex was estimated to cost Rs. 90 lakhs.

The space left at the temple Thirumuttom following the shifting of the executive office would be utilised for providing more pilgrim facilities, the TDB president said.

Sewage treatment

Dr. Babu said that the TDB would set up two sewage treatment plants at Sabarimala, Sannidhanam and at Pampa, to scientifically dispose of the huge quantity of human waste as well as other wastes accumulated in the forests during the annual pilgrim season.

He said the board would invite tenders for the 11 pollution abatement schemes proposed for Sabarimala and Pampa as part of the Pampa Action Plan once the State received the Central fund sanctioned for the project.

The TDB chief has said that more fire hydrants would be provided at Sannidhanam before the next pilgrim season.

He said that those who run hotels and shops at Sabarimala would be insisted to keep all basic fire-fighting equipment at their establishments as a pre-requisite to obtain licence.

Dr. Babu said the diesel tanks would be shifted from the Temple Thirumuttom premises soon. He said that the TDB had also sought permission from the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) for replacing the existing transformer near the cowshed at Sannidhanam with a dry transformer.

He said that the Rs. 1.5-crore staff quarters under construction at Sannidhanam would be completed by November.

The TDB would construct a water tank with a storage capacity of 5 lakh litres at Nilackal with a view to facilitate uninterrupted drinking water supply at the Nilackal base camp during the annual pilgrim season, Dr. Babu said. Toilet complexes would be constructed at Sannidhanam and Pampa by the next pilgrim season.

The work on the widening of the Chalakayam-Pampa road to 13 metres, estimated at Rs. 2.5 crores, would also be completed by November, he added.

The Devaswom Commissioner, S. Ayyappan Nair, the PRO, Mohan Perinad, and the Executive Officer, R. Krishnan Nair, were present.

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