The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Act sternly, TDB chief told

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Thursday, Dec 13, 2007
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Act sternly, TDB chief told

Government can sort out problems at Sabarimala, says Sudhakaran

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Minister for Cooperation and Devaswom G. Sudhakaran said here on Wednesday that the government was willing to solve shortage of ‘aravana’ and other problems at Sabarimala if the Devaswom Board gave a request in writing.

In a statement, the Minister said those who were creating trouble at Sabarimala were blaming the government. The government wanted the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president to act strongly, as he was above other members of the Board.

He said though the TDB members had been appointment on his initiative, some of them were trying to convert the Board into a den of corruption.

All wrong decisions should be corrected. Action should be taken against the Secretary of the Board and the Devaswom Commissioner who had “acted irregularly.”

They had not provided sufficient information for submission of periodical report to the government. The Minister said he had held discussions with senior police officials along with Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan to sort out problems in crowd control at Sabarimala. A meeting of officials from 22 departments will be convened at Pathanamthitta

He said legal action should be taken against those responsible for revenue loss to the Board.

Last year, the revenue had increased by Rs.35 crore, as the number of pilgrims visiting the temple had risen by a crore. Though the number of pilgrims had increased this year too, the revenue had come down.

He said three large camps would be set up by cooperatives in Kottayam, Chengannur and Pathanamthitta from December 13. The Cooperative Department will take steps to supply rice to devotees at Rs. 14 a kg.

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