Kerala - Pathanamthitta   

`Suggestions in Sabarimala masterplan impractical'

Staff Reporter

`Schemes prepared without consulting stakeholders'

PATHANAMTHITTA: Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president G. Raman Nair has alleged that many suggestions in the finalmasterplan for Sabarimala submitted by the Delhi-based private agency Ecosmart India Ltd. were impractical and hence unacceptable to the TDB.

Mr. Raman Nair told journalists in Aranmula on Saturday that many of the important schemes were prepared by the agency without consulting the main stakeholders in Sabarimala, including the TDB, the police, Pollution Control Board, Kerala Water Authority and other Government agencies.

He said a self-contained queue complex should be constructed on the trekking path for the devotees. He alleged that the proposed masterplan did not provide the detailed sketch and design of the queue complex.

He added that 500 hectares of forest land, comprising the sacred grove of Sabarimala, should be delinked from the Periyar Tiger Reserve to provide basic facilities to the pilgrims.

He urged the Government to convene a meeting of all the stakeholders in Sabarimala to discuss the masterplan after the Makaravilakku festival.

Mr. Raman Nair said that experts in temple architecture should also be consulted on the modifications proposed in the temple complex.

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

Stories in this Section

Thanka Anki procession sets off
`Suggestions in Sabarimala masterplan impractical'
Chandy calls for agriculture package

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu