Kerala - Pathanamthitta   

Travancore Devaswom Board caught napping

PATHANAMTHITTA: The Vigilance and Security wing of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has reportedly collected evidence showing large-scale fraud in the preparation of Aravana at Sabarimala temple during the last Mandalam-Makaravilakku festival season.

In his letter (No. 50/TDB/Vig/2009, dated 19-2-2010) submitted to the TDB through G. Rajagopal, Devaswom Chief Engineer who was also the chairman of the panel for regularisation of Aravana preparation method, Chief Vigilance and Security Officer P. Sugathan has pointed out “pilferage of Aravana'' from the mechanised plant at Sabarimala in the past few months, leading to huge loss to the Devaswom.

Less containers

Mr. Sugathan, Superintendent of Police on deputation to TDB, has conducted a detailed inquiry into the method of Aravana preparation at Sabarimala during the Makaravilakku season.

He has established that “not less than 1,000 containers (250 ml each) of Aravana could be obtained from a single ‘koottu' [preparation].”

According to him, the stipulated quantity of ingredients had not been used for Aravana preparation during the period. Ingredients like jaggery and rice had not been weighed accurately, leading to decrease in the number of containers produced from every ‘kootu.'

Illegal sales

The vigilance officer also detected unaccounted storage of a “large quantity of Aravana payasam (66,577 containers) in the cooling chambers at the plant for illegal sale during the monthly pooja period.''

Panel's assessment

It is noteworthy that a high-level committee comprising the Special Commissioner appointed by the Kerala High Court, Devaswom Commissioner, Chief Engineer and Chief Vigilance Officer had systematically assessed that not less 968 containers of Aravana of superior quality could be produced from every ‘koottu' prepared at Sabarimala way back in 1999.

The TDB had also accepted the proceedings of the committee, fixing that 968 containers of Aravana to be obtained from every ‘koottu' (ROC No. 90/99/Sab, dated 2-8-2000).

The TDB had been unfailingly following the system since 1999. However, the officials in charge of Aravana preparation at Sabarimala during the last season said they could obtain only 955 containers per ‘koottu', leaving a shortage of 13 containers.

As many as 11,536 ‘koottu' were prepared during the season, leaving a total shortage of 1,49,968 containers worth Rs.74,98,400 (priced at Rs.50 for a can).

Recently, the TDB resolved to write off the amount, after obtaining the mandatory clearance for the same from the High Court, according to highly reliable Devaswom Board sources.

The vigilance officer's letter says that “the shortage of number of containers in the stock, in all probability, is to be considered as pilferage.”

He has also intimated the matter to Devaswom Ombudsman R. Bhaskaran for necessary action.

Another assessment

Meanwhile, a committee appointed by TDB Chief Commissioner, with Devaswom Chief Engineer as its chairman, maintained that not less than 1,000 cans of high quality Aravana could be obtained from every‘koottu.'

That way, the loss incurred by TDB due to the reported production anomaly would have gone up to 46 cans per ‘koottu' worth a total of Rs.2,65,32,800 (shortage of 5,30,656 containers priced at Rs.50 each).

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Travancore Devaswom Board caught napping

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