The district administration has decided to impose restrictions on offering Karkkidaka Vavu Bali on the Shanghumughom Beach on August 11 as a major portion of the beach has been damaged following the recent swell waves and monsoon.
A high-level meeting chaired by District Collector K. Vasuki at the Collectorate here on Thursday also decided to prevent organisations and institutions from making arrangements for offering rituals at major centres in the district where people flocked in large numbers.
The ban on private agencies was announced after the Travancore Devaswom Board authorities informed the meeting that the presence of such agencies had prevented government agencies from arranging facilities there.
‘Choose other centres’
The District Collector has appealed to those coming regularly to the beach to offer Vavu Bali to proceed to Varkala Papanasam beach, Sree Parasurama temple at Thiruvallom or other bathing ghats in the district.
The police informed the meeting that only 20 metres was available for offering the rituals and people could be allowed only in small batches.
In view of the situation, the administration has decided to seek help of patrol boats that could reach the shoreline. The number of lifeguards will be doubled and the Navy will be approached for lifebuoys. Traffic restrictions will be imposed on the road leading to the beach.
Arrangements
A team comprising the tahsildar, geologist and police officers had been asked to inspect the Papanasam beach on Friday and review the security arrangements. Sixty lifeguards will be posted on the beach.
The District Collector has asked the PWD to ensure the safety of the temporary bridge being built at Thiruvallom as part of the Vavu Bali.
Control rooms will be opened by the police at Shanghumughom, Varkala, and Thiruvallom. Security will be increased in all major bathing ghats, including Aruvikkara and Aruvuppuram. Medical teams will be posted in all places. Plastic has been banned in the bathing ghats. The District Collector has appealed to all to follow the Green Protocol.
The District Collector directed the police and the Kerala State Pollution Control Board to take action against those flouting high decibel loud speakers and causing noise pollution near the bathing ghats.
District Police Chief, Thiruvananthapuram City, P. Prakash; District Police Chief, Rural, P. Ashok Kumar; ADM V.R. Vinod; Deputy Collector John Samuel; and Deputy Commissioner, TDB, K.S. Vinod were present.