Efforts would be made to ensure maximum possible safety and security arrangements at Sabarimala during the forthcoming Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrim season at Sabarimala, District Collector R.Girija has said.
The Collector, accompanied by Superintendent of Police Satheesh Beno, was addressing an official meeting convened at the collectorate conference hall here on Friday to review the preparatory arrangements to be made by various goverrnment agencies for the smooth conduct of the annual Sabarimala pilgrim season that begins in November.
Ms Girija said the Green Protocol would be strictly complied in making various arrangements for the annual Sabarimala pilgrim season. Special campaign will be organised in various South Indian States to make the Ayyappa devotees properly aware of the need to avoid use of plastic, she said.
The Collector said top priority would be given for security arrangements at Sabarimala where as many as the State’s population visit on their annual pilgrimage in a short span of two months.
A combined inspection and verification of the security arrangements would be done by various major stakeholders from Pathanamthitta to Pampa and from Pampa to Sabarimala Sanidhanam well before the beginning of the pilgrim season, Ms. Girija said.
Officials attached to the Departments of Police, Fire and Rescue Force, and Disaster Management would conduct a security inspection on these two routes in August.
Ms Girija said stern steps, including cancellation of licence, would be taken aginst those commercial establishments that fail to comply with the fire safety rules.
She said pilgrims would not be permited to use LPG for cooking food at the Nilackal base camp on security grounds.
Emergency healthcare centres would be set up at Sabarimala Sannidhanam and surrounding areas from the very beginning of the pilgrim season.
Steps have already been taken to set up trauma care centres at the seasonal government healthcare centres at Nilackal and at Sabarimala, she said. She said a new oxygen parlour would be opened at Karimala and health card would be issued to all hotel workers at the Appam-Aravana plants as well as hotels at Sabarimala.
Ms Girija said the Kerala Water Authority would install drinking water kiosks at Pampa and along the Pampa-Sannidhanam path.
Public comfort station
Steps would be taken to set up public comfort station, under the Swacch Bharat Mission, at the KSRTC bus station at Pampa, she said.
Anu S.Nair, Additional District Magistrate; V.Jayamohan, and M.A.Raheem, Revenue Divisional Officers, were also present.