Sabarimala: concern over rise in eco issues

By Our Staff Reporter

PATHANAMTHITTA, SEPT. 2. The Pampa Parirakshana Samithi (PPS), a Kozhencherry-based environmental organisation which has been crusading for the cause of the river Pampa, has said that it is high time the Government took serious note of the alarmingly high environmental issues at Sabarimala.

Talking to The Hindu here today, the PPS general secretary, Mr. N.K. Sukumaran Nair, said that a study by two expert teams headed by reputed scientists had revealed that the chances of landslips and tremors at the holy hillock due to the extensive concrete flooring at Sabarimala Sannidhanam are much high.

However, the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), the administrative body of the Ayyappa temple, continues to initiate more construction activities at Pampa and Sabarimala, disregarding the actual needs of the ordinary pilgrim, Mr. Nair alleges.

According to him, what an ordinary Ayyappa devotee expects at Sabarimala is a clean and hygienic surrounding, a soul-filling holy dip in clean Pampa river waters and a serene atmosphere for a holy darshan at the temple.

Many devotees alleged that it is unfortunate that a large number of pilgrims are put to much hardships at the pilgrim centre for want of clean and hygienic surroundings, safe drinking water, etc.

The `ad hoc' arrangements by the Government and the TDB for the annual Sabarimala pilgrimage usually start at the eleventh hour and consequently they seldom get enough time to meet the needs of the pilgrims, an elderly pilgrim who unfailing used to undertake the annual pilgrimage alleged.

The auctioning of space for shops at Pampa, the Sannidhanam and along the trekking path at high rates leaves enough room for the fleecing of the hapless pilgrims by the traders.

It is strange to note that though there are many voluntary organisations and religious bodies which are willing to provide free food and beverages to the Ayyappa devotees at Sabarimala, the TDB appears to be ``sceptical'' of their ``motives''.

What is needed at Sabarimala are not multi-storeyed complexes but temporary shelters and a fool-proof mechanism for sanitation and drinking water supply without disturbing the ecology and environment of the sacred grove, opined many Ayyappa devotees.

The eco group leader said that it is the obligation of the State Government to preserve the wildlife and rivers from environmental degradation as per Article 48-A of the Constitution. The Water Act 1974 maintains that polluting river water is a punishable offence (Sections 24, 25).

However, the criminal negligence on the part of the Government and the TDB in taking timely, fool-proof remedies against the flow of filth into the river has raised the coliform count in the Pampa river waters drastically, Mr. Nair alleged

The State Pollution Control Board (PCB) had observed a coliform count of more than 2 lakhs per 100 ml of Pampa river water during the last Mandalam-Makaravilakku season. Highly placed PCB sources confided that the colifirm count had even went up to 16 lakhs on a particuar day during the last Makaravilakku season when the human wastes from the TDB latrine complex were allegedly drained out into the river.

Mr. Nair stresed the need for pilgrim shelters at different base camps like Nilackal, Vadasserikkara Pandalam, Aranmula, Pathanamthitta, Ranni, Erumeli, Kalaketty, Perunadu, etc so as to minimise the human pressure on the holy hillock.

According to Mr. Nair, the TDB is supposed to provide only

the minimum basic facilities in a safe and fool-proof manner at Sabarimala with a view to minimising the stay of pilgrims at the holy hillock for a long duration.

He opined that the sewage collection tanks of the 450-member latrine complex on the banks of the Pampa would create pollution problems in the locality.

He also suggested the construction of a series of check dams in the upstream of Pampa Triveni so as to facilitate the flushing out of filth from the river during the peak days of the pilgrim season.

He said that a large fire place (Aazhi) should be kept at Pampa to facilitate the disposal of the remains of pooja materials and other wastes like rags, left behind by the pilgrims.

With only three months left for the next season, it is high time the Government took stock of the situation and take more serious steps for the smooth conduct of the pilgrimage and to check the pollution of the river Pampa, Mr Nair added.

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