Minister Kadakampally Surendran said that they have decided to conduct the Sabarimala pilgrimage following the strict COVID protocol. The Devaswom Minister said that Kovid negative certificate will be mandatory for pilgrims and Sabarimala’s vision will be controlled through the virtual queue system.
The decision was taken at a high – level online meeting chaired by Minister Kadakampally Surendran to prepare for the Sabarimala pilgrimage which will begin on November 16. The meeting noted that in the context of COVID 19, there were limitations to the full extent of the pilgrimage. The Minister informed the meeting that the preparations for this year’s pilgrimage should be completed within the limits and the various levels of coordination and follow-up should be completed in a timely manner.
It was opined at the meeting that this time of pilgrimage in the context of Covid-19 is a big challenge. Strictly following the COVID protocol, very few pilgrims can be allowed to visit this year. The entry of pilgrims will be restricted through the virtual queue system of the police department.
The meeting decided to make arrangements so that the pilgrims who come with Covid-19 disease-free certificate can be included in the virtual queue system through online registration and brought to the Darshan without any hassle.
The Pathanamthitta district administration has said that the sand deposited in the Pampariver during the 2018 floods has been removed. 17,517 truckloads of sand have been transferred to the Chakkapalam parking ground. The district collector said that in the last few days, the water from the Kaki dam may have accumulated again in the area. If so, this sand also needs to be removed.
The District Collector said that measures and precautionary measures have been taken against landslides and natural calamities and that an Emergency Operations Center should be opened for disaster management this year. The Pathanamthitta District Collector and the District Disaster Management Authority also demanded that facilities including emergency evacuation helicopters be set up.
Travancore Devaswom Board President N.S. Vasu said. The Devaswom Board President said that the process of providing facilities to the pilgrims is being completed at Sabarimala.
The district administration has asked the district administration to vacate the buildings where Kovid has been treated in Nilakkal before the pilgrimage. Vasu asked. The meeting also decided to make the services of government and quasi-government agencies like Consumerfed available to pilgrims if the likelihood of shops being auctioned off decreases. KSRTC Necessary accommodation will be provided for the officers and day laborers of the departments involved.
The Water Authority MD said that steps have been taken to construct a storage tank with a storage capacity of 10 lakh liters at KSRTC’s premises in Pampa, to provide drinking water at Nilakkal, Pampa and Sannidhanam and to provide uninterrupted water in toilets and other facilities. The high-level head informed the meeting.
The Chief Engineer of Irrigation said that the construction of the protective wall under the charge of the Irrigation Department at Pampa will be completed by September 30. Maintenance of all public works roads leading to Sabarimala Pilgrimage Path will be completed before the pilgrimage.
