Kerala   

Tirupati-model to handle Sabarimala affairs mooted

ALAPPUZHA: The State government is considering to set up a Tirupati-model high-power committee to handle administrative matters at Sabarimala, Devaswom Minister G. Sudhakaran said here on Friday. Addressing a press conference, the Minister said the government had already contacted the Tirupati Tirumala Devasthanam authorities. It was studying the administrative model there.

The Minister said the proposed committee would concentrate solely on Sabarimala affairs unlike the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), which looked after matters relating to several other temples. Coordination among government departments and implementation of the Sabarimala master plan could be handed over to the proposed committee, Mr. Sudhakaran said. He said the committee would not undermine the authority of the TDB.

The Minister accused SIDCO officials of being responsible for the ‘aravana’ crisis. He said the officials had not kept the government’s policies in mind and, instead, seen the ‘aravana’ affair as a mere profit-making business deal. “I have sought action and Vigilance inquiries against SIDCO officials who were responsible for the crisis,” he said. The Minister said he would visit the Sannidhanam on Saturday night to inspect the conditions there. A review meeting would be held at Pampa at 10 a.m. on his return from the Sannidhanam. With Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan slated to visit Sabarimala on Sunday, a meeting of the Health Minister and all TDB officials would be convened the next day under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister.

The Minister said the government had decided to stock five lakh tins of ‘aravana’ before the temple reopened for the Makaravilakku festival on December 31. Till 8 a.m. on Thursday, ‘aravana’ priced at Rs.15.5 crore had been distributed to the pilgrims.

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

Stories in this Section

Tirupati-model to handle Sabarimala affairs mooted
Pioneering effort
Grid for foodgrains
Implementing Juvenile Act
NSS camp on at Kakkodi
Registration of wells: deadline fixed
3.94 lakh children to get polio vaccine
Pulse polio poster release today
Ayurveda college anniversary
Award for paediatric cardiologist
Ecological concerns
Exotic attractions
Government and oil PSUs
Sabarimala revenue registers fall
Special prayers in Catholic churches
Ayurveda college anniversary fete
New medical facility at Sabarimala
Cleanliness, an area of concern
Police crackdown on misuse of explosives

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