Sabarimala: Minister, Travancore Devaswom Board lock horns over delay

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With Mandala season beginning on November 16, both state government and Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) are at loggerheads over preparations. Devaswom minister Kadakampally Surendran who reached Sannidhanam to review the situation was dissatisfied with the delay in completing works.
He blamed TDB for the not finishing works before the beginning of the festival season.“Many decisions, taken at the review meeting four months ago, have not been executed when I convened a meeting the other day. Work is progressing at a snail's pace,“ he said.
The minister said that the biggest challenge will be ensuring drinking water for devotees. Since there is a plastic ban we will have to ensure kiosks for bottled water. But the board signed an agreement for setting up 200 kiosks after awarding tenders only a couple of days ago.How can TDB set up these 200 kiosks within 15 days, he asked.
TDB had sanctioned Rs 4.70 crore for setting up these kiosks. This has happened when the state government decision to set up 153 kiosks on its own is in its final stage.
The minister said that he had asked the water resources department to convene an emergency meeting on Monday to finish works on a war footing.
“The government and TDB have to work together to finish the task.I had asked TDB authorities to complete everything a month in advance, but nothing has happened. Now, the government will monitor day-to-day activities,“ he said.
But, TDB officials gave a different version. “The high court directive says that for work, where the expenditure is over Rs 10 lakh, the board needs to get the court's sanction. This is the reason for the delay .TDB has carried out all works on time and there is no need to worry,“ said TDB secretary V S Jayakumar.At the meeting convened by the minister, TDB member Ajay Tharayil expressed concern over the lack of support from different departments for completing works.
But, the minister is not ready to accept TDB's explanation. “On September 9, tenders were given for 153 works. How can it be possible to finish these works before November 15?
There is no justification for such acts,“ he said.
For the ensuing festival season, TDB had decided to set up a facility for providing `annadanam' to 5,000 pilgrims at a time. However, not even the kitchen is ready . We will have to complete the facility to provide food for 2,000 people within 15 days,“ Surendran added.
However, TDB is not ready to take up the responsibility for the delay.“Most of the works come under the master plan for which a committee is monitoring the activities. Hence TDB cannot be blamed for the delay .TDB is ensuring all basic facilities for pilgrims. Unlike previous years, the board has completed works in advance,“ said the TDB secretary .
Now the minister added that the task would be difficult during northeast monsoon. He has asked all officials to be at Pamba and Sabarimala to ensure timely completion of works.