SABARIMALA: Governor Justice P Sathasivam said on Sunday that the Central Government would be urged to declare Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple as a national pilgrim centre. Inaugurating the Pampa Sangamam, the Governor said he would meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Rajanth Singh with a proposal to accord the temple the national pilgrim centre status.
The discussions with the Central Government would be centred around the key proposals submitted by the Travancore Devaswom Board to the Central Government, the Governor said.
Justice Sathasivam pointed out that Sabarimala temple would be unique across the world in attracting people irrespective of their nationality, religion, caste and creed. The Governor said that development projects to be implemented at the hill shrine should be eco-friendly and environment-friendly. The Governor said he would invite Green Tribunal chairman Justice Swathantrakumar to visit Sabarimala for an on-the-spot assessment of the conditions here for taking up projects for the imporvement of basic facilities for the pilgrims.
The Green Tribunal should not compare Sabarimala with other centres in the country for clearance for development projects, the Governor said.
Travancore Devaswom Board president Prayar Gopalakrishnan urged the Central Government to give the green signal for projects to improve basic facilities for the pilgrims. The TDB has submitted a memorandum to the Centre and sought appointment with the Prime Minister and other Union Ministers, he said.
Presiding over the function, Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran said that the State Government would implement a `500-crore programme for the overall development of Sabarimala. The pilgrims would receive the benefits of the new programme from the next season, the Minister said.
PWD Minister G Sudhakaran said Sabarimala pilgrimage would be taken as the key for integrated development of the state. He said the revenue from entry tax on pilgrim vehicles from other states should be an eye-opener in this regard. He said development of 17 Sabarimala roads alone would not be enough for the pilgrimage and another 500 additional roads should also be included in development list.
Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala, MP Anto Antony, and MLA Raju Abraham offered felicitations.