SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT FOR SABARIMALA

A sewage treatment plant, costing Rs. 27.87 crore, will soon come up at the Sannidhanam in Sabarimala .The high-power committee for the implementation of the Sabarimala master plan has awarded the work to Ramji Infrastructure Ltd. The work would be completed within a year, said chairperson of the committee and the former Chief Secretary K. Jayakumar.The high-power committee and a technical committee would review the progress of the work on a monthly basis, he said, while briefing the media after a review meeting here on Thursday.The committee, which met here on Thursday to review the progress of the ongoing works at Sabarimala, has also prioritised the projects that need to be taken up in the next one year as part of the implementation of the master plan.

A new appam and aravana plant would also be set up at Sabarimala next year, for which a sponsor has come forward , Mr. Jayakumar said. The sponsor has agreed to buy and provide machinery of the specifications given by the Dewaswom Board.The ropeway project, to be taken up next year, has been awarded to Damodar Roapways and Infrastructure Ltd.. The company will complete and execute the project on its own and the Devaswom Board would be provided annual revenue. However, the contract would be finalised only after another round of talks, Mr. Jayakumar said.The committee has also decided to discuss with the Forest Department and clear the formalities in bringing more water to the Sannidhanam from Kunnar dam, after increasing the dam’s capacity. The ‘Valia nada pandal’ would be made into a double-storeyed structure without increasing its current height to accommodate pilgrims.One important decision taken by the committee is to divert the tractor route, which at present goes right through the ‘Valia nada pandal’ where pilgrims congregate. A new approach road will be constructed from Chandranandan road , by the side of the Bailey bridge, towards Sannidhanam to divert all tractor traffic.A commercial complex to provide more facilities for pilgrims and a pilgrim centre with restroom facilities will be constructed at Pampa. The committee has also decided to go ahead with the Rs. 5-crore Zero Waste project at Sabarimala. The existing toilet blocks at Pampa will also be improved as part of the projects to be taken up next year. The high-power committee has taken up only projects proposed on a permanent basis under the master plan, Mr. Jayakumar said.

Prof. John Kurakar