Panel satisfied with facilities for darsan at Sabarimala

Amidst reviews that the federal government is actively contemplating to lift the day by day restrict of pilgrims to Sabarimala, a high-level committee assembly has assessed the preparations in place at Sannidhanam for accommodating extra pilgrims within the coming days.

The assembly, convened by Sabarimala ADM Arun K. Vijayan and presided over by Special Officer B. Krishnakumar, expressed satisfaction at the preparations for darsan in line with the COVID-19 protocol in addition to at the functioning of assorted departments.

Speaking on the event, the ADM famous that the pilgrimage season was progressing beneath nice warning.

Allays fears

On the event, he additionally sought to allay fears over reviews of a short lived worker testing constructive at Sannidhanam and stated the affected person and his major contact had been transferred to a COVID-19 first-line therapy centre. Also, steps had been initiated to quarantine these related with them.

The assembly, held late on Monday, additionally mentioned the proposals by numerous departments on what needs to be finished in case of a rise in footfall. It additional determined to increase the COVID-19 protocol committee and made it obligatory for the officers on obligation to stick to the pandemic pointers.

Directive to merchants

The staff of the non permanent retailers at Sabarimala have been directed to supply COVID-19 unfavorable certificates, in addition to a certificates of disinfection of their retailers

A choice on finishing up sanitation drives at Sannidhanam and Valiya Nadapandal at common intervals too was made.

In view of the pandemic, the day by day variety of pilgrims to the hill shrine has been fastened at 1,000 on weekdays and a couple of,000 on holidays. The proposal to lift the day by day restrict primarily stems from the sagging funds of the Travancore Devaswom Board, which has been in a disaster following the locking down of temples.

The Ayyappa temple used to obtain between 80,000 and one lakh pilgrims a day throughout the pilgrimage season and it clocked a income of ₹263 crore throughout the earlier pilgrimage season. But with the restrictions in place, merchants refused to take part within the tendering of retailers whereas the income via sale of choices and assortment packing containers too recorded a pointy drop.

9,000 in first week

As per estimates, round 9,000 pilgrims visited the temple throughout the first week of the continued Mandalam-Makaravilakku season, which started on November 16. The day by day earnings throughout the season at present stands round ₹10 lakh on weekdays and ₹20 lakh on weekends.