The high power committee (HPC) for implementation of the Sabarimala Master Plan chaired by former Chief Secretary K. Jayakumar has decided to beautify Pampa in a time-bound manner.
Talking to The Hindu , Mr. Jayakumar said developing Pampa into a majestic gateway to Sabarimala would be the major project to be executed before the next Mandalam-Makaravilakku season.
He said the proposal included construction of a series of modern common shower bath right on the river banks itself. The shower water would be released back into the Pampa only after proper treatment so as to avoid pollution of the river water. Enclosed shower bath areas would be constructed for women. Pilgrims who wished to have a holy dip in the Pampa would be permitted to do so only after taking a shower bath so as to prevent river pollution, he said.
Mr. Jayakumar said the Pampa river banks and the Manalpuram would be beautified with flowering plants, benches and drinking water kiosks.
New STP at Pampa
He said the 15-year-old existing sewage treatment plant (STP) at Cheriyanavattom would be replaced with a modern STP having a capacity to treat five million litres of sewage a day in the next one-year.
Mr. Jayakumar said Monday’s HPC meeting attended by Travancore Devaswom Board president Prayar Gopalakrishnan; Ajay Tharayil, board member; and C.P. Ramaraja Prema Prasad, Devaswom Commissioner; decided to construct a multi-storey accommodation block for pilgrims at Pampa adjoining the Devaswom Guest House near the Pampa Ganapati temple complex.
This would be beneficial for those women devotees in the age group of 10 to 50 years who were not allowed to undertake the pilgrimge to stay back until their fellow pilgrims returned from Sabarimala, he said.
An underpass for vehicular traffic between the Forest Information Centre and Ganapati temple grounds would also be constructed, he said.
