Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has stressed the importance of ensuring a healthy and hygienic environment at Sabarimala where a large number of pilgrims from different parts of the country visit every year.
Mr. Vijayan, accompanied by his Cabinet colleagues Kadakampally Surendran, Mathew T. Thomas, K.K. Shylaja, K. Chandrashekharan, K.T. Jaleel, K. Raju, and A.K. Saseendran, was reviewing the arrangements to be made for the smooth conduct of the forthcoming Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrim season at an official meeting held at Pampa on Thursday.
He said the alleged fleecing of pilgrims and commercialisation at the pilgrim centre should be brought to an end. Open defecation should be stopped.
Mr. Vijayan mooted setting up of self-contained ‘Yatra Bhavans’ in every 50 km distance along National Highways and State Highways for the pilgrims. The proposed Yatra Bhavans should have a vegetarian cafeteria, petrol/diesel outlets, besides facility for a brief stay, he said.
Airport
The Chief Minister further stressed the importance of setting up an airport near Sabarimala. He said provision for safe drinking water and food should be ensured at Sabarimala. Scientific crowd management, modernisation of the queue complexes, speedy and effective waste disposal system, and setting up of full-fledged hospitals at Pampa and Sannidhanam were the other suggestions made by the Chief Minister.
He said Sabarimala should be declared a ‘Green area’ where ban on plastic should be strictly enforced.
Mr. Vijayan said there should not be any compromise on ensuring foolproof security at Sabarimala.
Source: The Hindu
