Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 23 Keralam Chief Minister V D Satheesan on Wednesday said there was no dispute between the state government and the TDB over arrangements for the upcoming Sabarimala pilgrimage and ruled out replacing the existing board.
Satheesan said a meeting chaired by him had set specific targets for various departments for the pilgrimage season and that the government had held discussions with the Travancore Devaswom Board after delays were noticed in some areas.
“There is no dispute between the government and the TDB. The government wants to conduct the pilgrimage season without complaints,” he said at a press conference here after the weekly Cabinet meeting.
He made it clear that the government had no plan to replace the existing Devaswom Board. The annual Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season is scheduled to begin on November 17.
The TDB would have full responsibility for arrangements such as the distribution of prasadam, tender procedures, preparations at Sannidhanam (temple complex) and Pampa, and maintenance and construction works, the CM said.
Satheesan said clear instructions had been issued to the police and fire and rescue services regarding the pilgrimage. The government was taking into account court interventions, he said.
The CM said the state had, for the first time, allocated more than Rs 600 crore for the construction and development of roads leading to Sabarimala.
His remarks came amid media reports of alleged differences between Devaswom Minister K Muraleedharan and the TDB over arrangements for the pilgrimage.
Muraleedharan had on Monday criticised the TDB over a shortage of ‘Aravana payasam’ (sweet rice pudding) for devotees at the Lord Ayyappa shrine in Sabarimala, saying appropriate action would be taken after discussions with the CM.
He had said the government could not remain idle on the matter as it had certain responsibilities and was considering informing the Kerala High Court about its concerns over the shortage of prasadam.
Muraleedharan had also said discussions with the CM would include the possibility of appointing a special team, with the permission of the High Court, to oversee the Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrimage.
TDB President K Jayakumar met Satheesan at his office here and briefed him on the preparations being made by the Board ahead of the upcoming pilgrimage season.
He later told reporters that there were no differences between the Board and the Keralam government and that both would work together to ensure a smooth Sabarimala pilgrimage this year.
Both the Board and the government would cooperate to make this year’s Sabarimala pilgrimage successful, Jayakumar said.
“I met the CM and discussed in detail matters related to the Board’s activities at Sabarimala. I did not feel that he had any disagreement with the Board,” Jayakumar said.
He said the CM had assured the Board of the government’s full cooperation.
The Board would keep the government informed about the progress of every activity at Sabarimala and move forward without any issues, he said.
Jayakumar acknowledged that there had been a shortage of ‘Aravana’ for a short period recently, but said such shortages had occurred in the past as well and that it was not a major issue.
He said the Board would be able to conduct the Sabarimala pilgrimage in a more organised manner than usual this time.
(PTI News)
