The Kerala High Court has ordered the termination of the Punyam Poonkavanam project at Sabarimala. The court’s decision was based on reports that funds were being collected in the name of the project. Expressing concern over the police report, the High Court issued the order. ADGP M.R. Ajith Kumar submitted the report in a sealed cover.
The court also directed the state government to take appropriate action based on the report. The Punyam Poonkavanam project was originally launched to ensure a smooth pilgrimage experience for devotees. The project, led by the police, was a cleanliness initiative at Sabarimala. However, it was later discontinued.
The project was initiated in 2011 under the leadership of IGP Vijayan. Later, the Travancore Devaswom Board introduced the “Pavithram Sabarimala” project. For the past three years, the Punyam Poonkavanam project had not been implemented, and instead, the Pavithram Sabarimala project was in place.
Punyam Poonkavanam was widely appreciated for its impact. However, in 2021, reports emerged about fund collection under the project’s name. Based on intelligence reports, the High Court sought clarification, leading to the police submitting their report. Following this, the court ordered the termination of the project, emphasizing that devotees should not be misled or defrauded in the name of fund collection.
The project originally involved an hour-long cleaning drive followed by awareness campaigns. It aimed to keep Sabarimala clean and free of plastic waste while preserving its sanctity. However, for the past three pilgrimage seasons, the Punyam Poonkavanam project had not been implemented.
