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Central Government/Public Sector | Kerala - India | PID: 182713
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Realising the shortcomings of basic amenities in Sabarimala, the government sanctioned 1,000 additional bio-toilets for being installed at Nilackal and Pamba
On the basis of a high-level decision, chief secretary Tom Jose has asked Tata Projects Ltd (TPL) that has been entrusted with the reconstruction of amenities in Sabarimala, to install the toilet facilities at the earliest. Government sources said that TPL has been asked to take up the additional facilities immediately, and are likely to come up within a week
Pathanamthitta district collector P B Nooh has been asked to coordinate with TPL and decide on the distribution of additionally sanctioned bio-toilets between Nilackal and Pamba. "The government had consulted the Travancore Devaswom Board about the toilet requirements in Sabarimala after the devastation caused by floods. It was on the basis of the TDB report that the government had sanctioned 500 toilets initially," sources said
Sources said that the shortcomings have become evident only after the temple opened for the Mandala festival. "Devotees using public places for their primary requirements for the shortage of toilets are reflecting badly on the state, especially when the temple is capturing the attention of the whole world due to obvious reasons," sources added
Though the work was initiated as per the schedule, several unexpected matters including the refilling of the silt and mud and flooding due to the repeated rains had disturbed the plan of schedule for completion of work. In its report submitted to the government, the TPL had listed out the unexpected difficulties it had faced that had caused more work than expected at Sabarimala. The state government also said that the Centre had sanctioned only Rs 19.5 crores till date under Swadeshi Darshan scheme, unlike the claims of Union minister Alphons Kannathanam that Centre had granted Rs 100 crore
Meanwhile, TPL responded that it took over the challenge in September when the situation was grim and pilgrimage in November seemed next only to impossible as there were there were neither basic facilities nor any way one could cross the river to begin the trek to the temple
But as on Monday, connectivity via foot bridge and motorable bridge has been restored across river Pamba. Over one lakh cubic metre of silt and debris has been removed. All facilities like toilets, hospital, cloak room, sewage tanks -- buried under silt -- have been excavated and renovated. Pilgrims sheds to accommodate people have been erected at Nilackal. Toilet blocks have been installed and barracks for security personnel and dining blocks have been erected. Drinking water has been provided by installing 25 RO plants of 1,000 litre per hour capacity and parking lots have been created for parking private vehicles," TPL managing director Vinayak Deshpande said
| Updated on: 20 - Nov - 2018
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