SABARIMALA: The High-powered Committee on Sabarimala Master Plan has decided to implement projects worth Rs 30 crore to improve the basic facilities for pilgrims during the coming Sabarimala season.
The projects cleared at the meeting in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday include the funds under the Central Government’s pilgrim circuit tourism projects sanctioned for Sabarimala, Erumeli and Nilackal pilgrim transit camps, committee chairman K Jayakumar told ‘Express.’
The projects that will be ready for commissioning under the Rs 30-crore scheme include the three-storey annadanam complex at Malikappuram with a capacity to accommodate 5,000 pilgrims at a time, Jayakumar said.
The first phase of the darshanam complex at Pandithavalam in Sannidhanam will be ready for dedication before the beginning of the coming season, he said. The reconstruction of the Valiyanadapandal, with hassle-free facilities for pilgrims who stand in queue for darshan, will be ready before the pilgrimage season, Jayakumar said.
Talks with ADGP
Jayakumar said detailed discussions were held with ADGP Sudeshkumar on the facilities for pilgrims who stand in long queues at Valiyanadapandal. Jayakumar said the facilities include putting chairs for pilgrims at Valiyanadapandal.
He said the talks with the ADGP covered the judicious use of the queue complexes built on the queue path between Marakoottam and Saramkuthi.Before the implementation of the facilities at Valiyanadapandal and queue complex, a joint inspection of the technical committee and the police officials will be conducted, Jayakumar said.
Sewage treatment plant
Jayakumar said the tender for the 5mn litres per day Pampa sewage treatment plant will be invited by August 10. The meeting also gave the green signal for the detailed technical report for the sewage treatment plant, he said. The tender for the plant will be finalised with the objective of commissioning it before 2018-2019 season, he said.
Bathing ghat beautification
The committee has decided to implement schemes for the beautification of Pampa bathing ghat with more facilities for pilgrims with an eye on protecting the environment and ecology of Pampa, Jayakumar said.