PATHANAMTHITTA: The Union Water Resources Ministry will include Pampa under the Holy River Protection and Preservation Programme of the Central Government. Central fund of `100 crore will be sanctioned in the initial stage for the preservation project of Pampa. Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharathi made the announcement in Delhi in response to the memorandum submitted by BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan in Delhi on February 22. The Minister pointed out that the need for protection and preservation of Pampa, where about five crores of pilgrims take the holy bath before darsan of Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa during the two-month pilgrimage season, is needed in the larger interests of the river and people living both sides of the river.