Travancore Devaswom Board, forest department spat to reach Kerala High Court

Kochi: The Travancore Devaswom Board has decided to move the high court against the forest department for refusing permission to set up basic infrastructure at Sabarimala despite repeated pleas. “The requests for basic infrastructure like increasing the height of Kunnar dam to resolve the drinking water crisis at sannidhanam and Pampa and the setting up of storage buildings in an eco-friendly manner were among the major proposals rejected by the forest department. Even we have not been allowed to carry out repair works of the existing buildings,” Mr Ajay Tharayil, member, TDB said. The water level at Kunnar dam has dipped alarmingly this time that resulted in less flow of water to Pandithavalam.

“There is not enough water to fill the 12 storage tanks at Pandithavalam having a combined capacity of 1.97 crore litres. If it didn’t rain in the coming days, it will result in a severe water crisis,” said a TDB official. The issue has been aggregated by the fact that no mineral water is allowed at Pamba and the trekking path following a High Court order. “Though we’ve received the nod of the Union Environment Ministry, the forest department has been raising various objections for years altogether. We’ve decided to take the legal course and already engaged lawyers,” he pointed out.