Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

TDB gears up machinery

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has geared up its machinery for the production and distribution of ‘aravana prasadom’ in Sabarimala following intelligence reports about the possibility of miscreants attempting to disrupt the process.

Official sources said the Board had been cautioned against attempts to upset the production during the festival season. In the wake of the steady increase in the flow of pilgrims, the demand for ‘aravana’ has been increasing by the day. There have also been complaints that the supply has been restricted due to the shortage of cans. Even a slight interruption is feared to derail the system for distributing the ‘prasadom.’

As the ‘prasadom’ is now being given in containers brought by the pilgrims themselves, the chance of mischief-mongers attempting to sabotage the system cannot be ruled out. Hence, security has been tightened to prevent such incidents, sources said.

The board employees who supervise the production and distribution have been directed to closely monitor the system round the clock and plug all loop-holes without any lapse. Thorough changes have been suggested in the mode of production too. The Board officials have been told to ensure that the ‘prasadom’ is made in hygienic conditions. They will have to ensure the purity of the water as well as the ghee used for preparing ‘aravana.’ Special care should be taken to ensure sure that the water is not contaminated at any point till it reaches the ‘prasadom’ plant.

Meanwhile, Board sources told The Hindu that the ghee used for preparing the ‘prasadom’ is stored in hygienic conditions. The ghee offered by the pilgrims last year is used for preparing the ‘prasadom’ this year. The surplus ghee is used for lighting the oil wicks at the sannidhanam. The rice offered by the pilgrims is used for preparing `appam,’ sources said.

The casual labourers deployed by the Board for packing the prasadom too will be under close scrutiny. Earlier, there were recommendations to shift the plant to a secluded spot on security grounds. The project for setting up a new plant will be taken up soon, sources said.

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

Stories in this Section

Painting event for social change
Making of a huge Christmas delicacy
Major IT boom likely in State
CPI district meets in January
Award for Udayabhanu
‘Kerala should be known after Guru too’
Compensatory allocation by LSGIs
Water level down
BSNL mobile bill
Another milestone for Keltron
Concern over delay in sending back police
TDB gears up machinery
Holiday for schools
Statement criticised
Three killed, 12 injured in accident on M.C. Road
Fully computerised RTO starts functioning
Shashi Tharoor signs agreement to set up finishing school
Workshop
Families to be relocated from vulnerable areas of coast
Excise enforcement to be strengthened
Overrule objection, government urged
Thiruvananthapuram today

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu