The Hindu : PAC visit likely to cause hardship to pilgrims

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jan 12, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

PAC visit likely to cause hardship to pilgrims

PATHANAMTHITTA, JAN. 11. The scheduled visit of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament led by Buta Singh to Sabarimala from January 13 to 15, the peak days of the ongoing Makaravilakku festival, is likely to cause much inconvenience to the scores of Ayyappa devotees visiting the shrine during the period to witness the Makarajyothi.

The Special Commissioner appointed by the Kerala High Court, D. Sreevallabhan, is learnt to have appraised the court of the `inconveniences' likely to occur when such a large number of VVIPs visit the temple during the peak days.

The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has made elaborate arrangements for the 22 PAC members, seven senior officials and a special security team accompanying them to Sabarimala.

The TDB president, N. Babu, has said the PAC visit was to explore the possibility of allotting more forestland in the Periyar Tiger Reserve.

Dr. Babu told the TDB had submitted a memorandum to the PAC, at its sitting held in Kochi in October last, seeking the exclusion of 500 hectares that houses Sabarimala from the tiger reserve so that more facilities could be provided to pilgrims. He said the TDB demand was in view of the increase in the inflow of devotees during the pilgrim season every year.

However, there are apprehensions among the Ayyappa devotees and officials about how the VVIP team, that consists of even MPs having the Z-Category security status, could be taken through the Pampa Manalpuram and the trekking path flooded with pilgrims on the eve of the Makaravilakku Day.

Pilgrims who reach Sannidhanam during this week usually stay back till January 14 evening to witness the Makarajyothi that appears on the eastern horizon around 6-30 p.m. It normally takes hours for a person to move from one place to another in the Sannidhanam. The police used to block the pilgrims at Pampa from January 13 evening as part of crowd control measures. However, the law-enforcing agencies often fail to control the mammoth crowd. Even a slightest provocation or an `effort' to `discipline' the devotees may backlash. In such a scenario, any move to block the pilgrims to facilitate a "smooth passage'' of the VVIPs is likely to cause difficulties for the police and the TDB officials.

The TDB proceedings of January 3 (Roc No.9188/03/Sab) itself are self-explanatory of the problems in store for ordinary pilgrims reaching Sabarimala on the peak days. The TDB has also deputed more than 20 senior officials exclusively to supervise the arrangements in connection with the PAC visit. The PAC team would reach Pampa in a bus from Kochi on January 13.

The devaswom administrative officer at Pampa has been directed to make arrangements for the `Kettunira' of the PAC members. Cotton bags, black Mundu, shawls, Thulasimala, etc, should be arranged by the administrative officer, in addition to 20 dollies in good condition. The VVIPs will be accorded a reception at the Valiyanadappanthal when they reach Sannidhanam. Pilgrims camping there will have to be shifted from the Nadappanthal to receive the VVIPs there.

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