The Travancore Devaswom Board and various other stakeholders at Sabarimala should explore every possibility to reduce the environment pollution, air pollution, water pollution, and noise pollution at Sabarimala situated in the Periyar Tiger Reserve, Mullakkara Ratnakaran, MLA, has said.
The MLA was chairing a sitting of the Legislative Committee on Environment at Pampa in the foothills of Sabarimala on Tuesday.
According to him, it was high time the stakeholders at Sabarimala took effective steps for environment conservation and waste disposal. Unlike Tirupati, there were no exact predictions of the number of pilgrims visiting Sabarimala every year or the number of routes adopted to reach the hillock.
The Assembly panel visited Erumely, Nilackal, and Pampa on Tuesday to collect information on the ground reality at these major base camps, he said.
Mr. Ratnakaran said waste disposal in the forest areas of Sabarimala would be a challenge for the TDB in the years ahead. Depletion of the green cover had already affected the natural waste disposal system and the authorities were struggling to address the problem of development-induced waste generation, he said.
Air pollution
The MLA said that the TDB, in association with the Kerala State Electricity Board, should explore the possibility of detaining all vehicles at Nilackal base camp and introducing battery-operated vehicles between Nilackal and Pampa with a view to reducing air pollution.
He said the TDB should also take steps to discourage the pilgrims from staying back at the holy hillock and Pampa in an effort to address pollution and overcrowding at Sannidhanam.
Mr. Ratnakaran said the pilgrims returning from Sabarimala had taken it up a custom to abandon their clothes in the Pampa. The TDB should explore the possibility of utilising this for wealth generation, instead of hurting the sentiments of devotees. The committee would submit its report to the government before the next Assembly session.
Published - April 17, 2018 11:21 pm IST
