Thiruvananthapuram: Revenue minister A P Anilkumar has directed all departments to work in coordination and with a sense of responsibility to ensure a safe and smooth pilgrimage and quality service for devotees visiting Sabarimala.Speaking at a review meeting convened by the revenue department at Pamba in connection with the Sabarimala pilgrimage, the minister said the objective of review meetings was to identify and address potential shortcomings in advance rather than wait for problems to arise. There should be no lapses at Sabarimala, one of the country’s major pilgrimage centres that attracts national attention, he said.Representatives of various departments explained the steps taken so far. The minister said a shortage of funds had been noticed in the activities of the local self-govt department. Steps were also under way to resolve certain technical hurdles raised by the forest department in connection with road renovation works.Anil Kumar said cleanliness at Pamba and surrounding areas was one of the most important aspects requiring attention during the pilgrimage season. He called for a widespread awareness campaign to discourage devotees from leaving their clothes in the river at Pamba as part of a ritual. The message that this practice was not part of Keralam’s tradition should be conveyed to pilgrims, he said.As long-standing habits could not be changed overnight, a special mechanism should also be put in place to remove discarded clothes within a stipulated time. The minister said the state should achieve exemplary results in sanitation activities this year and directed LSG institutions to give the matter special attention.Pointing out that the existing electric vehicle charging facilities were inadequate in view of the increasing number of EVs, the minister said a single charging station at Pamba would not be sufficient. A charging station should also be established at Nilackal, and at least two charging stations should be made operational during the pilgrimage season to avoid traffic congestion when several vehicles arrive simultaneously.The minister said information required by devotees arriving from outside Keralam should be made available in their respective languages.Facilities for announcements in different languages should be expanded at Sannidhanam, Pamba and other locations where pilgrims gather in large numbers. He directed the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) to ensure announcements in languages understood by devotees from other states, in addition to Malayalam.He said devotees stranded during accidents or other emergency situations should receive assistance without delay. Emergency response arrangements should be made more effective through coordination among departments, including the police. Devotees should also not face difficulties in accessing basic facilities, including drinking water, he said.Anil Kumar also inaugurated the Sabarimala portal, developed at the initiative of the Pathanamthitta district administration. The portal has been designed to provide devotees easy access to daily information and various services related to Sabarimala.Shrine to be opened todaySabarimala Ayyappa temple will be opened at 5pm on Friday for rituals marking Sree Chithira Atta Thirunal, which falls on Saturday.Melsanthi Prasad E D will open the sanctum and light the lamp in the presence of tantri Kandararu Brahmadathan. The sacred fire will then be lit at the hearth below the 18 holy steps.On Saturday, the temple will open for darshan at 5am. Padipooja will be held on the 18 steps after the evening deeparadhana. The temple will close at 10pm that day after the rituals conclude.
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