The Hindu : Front Page : TDB decides to accept Government directive

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 09, 2005

Front Page

Front Page

TDB decides to accept Government directive

Special Correspondent

TDB chief explains practical difficulties of the Board

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Travancore Devaswom Board on Tuesday decided to fall in line with the Government directive asking it to stay all appointments to various posts in the TDB.

The TDB also decided to suspend till further notice all services provided by Ecosmart, which has been the centre of a controversy regarding Sabarimala development.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, TDB president G. Raman Nair and members Punalur Madhu and M. G. Sreekumar, said the board meeting on Tuesday had examined the Government's demi-letter asking it to stall all appointments. Mr. Nair said that while falling in line with the Government's directive on the appointments, the board had decided to point out to the practical difficulties it would face in the day-to-day running of temples in view of the shortage of temple priests.

The decision on Ecosmart had been prompted by the fact that suspicion had been expressed about its objectives. He said the row began following an interview in the Businessline in May in which the Joint Director of IL & FS, the holding company of Ecosmart, had disclosed the Sabarimala programme. The TDB had sought an explanation from the Joint Director and had even sent a lawyer's notice on the issue. The decision to put on hold Ecosmart's services has been taken in view of the attempts to commercialise Sabarimala development.

He said Ecosmart was promoted by the Government. During the tenure of the previous board, Devaswom secretary E. K. Bharat Bhushan had written to the board, informing it that Ecosmart had been appointed as consultant for the preparation of the master plan for Sabarimala. He said that the board had accepted this proposal as it was difficult for it to go for global tenders.

In reply to a question, he said Ecosmart was involved only in the first phase of the Sabarimala development. The board did not have any complaints about the work undertaken in the first phase. We have put on hold the Ecosmart's service as we wanted to ensure transparency, the TDB members said. As for the second phase, a competent agency needs to be identified.

In reply to a question, the TDB members said they welcomed a probe into the appointments. As far as they were concerned, the appointments so far had been above board and, therefore, they need not seek a probe into an action which, they felt, was transparent.

Mr. Nair said the TDB had merely carried out appointments to the posts of temple priests. The other vacant posts had not been filled up, he added. He said that for the first time, the results of the test conducted for watchmen had been put on the internet, along with the marks each candidate received.

Asked whether the board would accept any kind of arrangement for appointments, Mr. Raman Nair said the board viewed the entire issue positively.

The TDB president said that all pre-season work at Sabarimala to ensure a smooth pilgrim season had been completed in record time.

Construction of basic infrastructure on 250 acres of land at Nilackal was already over, with 500 new toilets, and 5.5 km parking areas. Roads had been widened for this. Drinking water facilities had been installed additionally in several areas. The work on the Chalakayam Pampa road, which had begun in 1996, had been completed. The road had been broadened and tarred making way for smooth traffic. Steps to construct sheds between Maramkootam and Sharmkutty had been initiated.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page