Pathanamthitta district has completed preparations to ensure a safe and smooth pilgrimage for devotees visiting Sabarimala Mandala-Makaravilakku. A review meeting held at the Pamba Srirama Saketham Auditorium under the chairmanship of Revenue Minister A.P. Anilkumar reviewed the extensive arrangements made in various areas including security, healthcare, transportation, cleanliness, and infrastructure.
Integrated control rooms will be set up in Pampa, Nilakkal and Sannidhanam that will operate 24 hours a day. Nodal officers of key departments will work here. The police control room and the integrated control room will work together in Nilakkal. A special monitoring system has also been set up to control the rush of pilgrims and coordinate various activities. Monitoring officers will be assigned to Sannidhanam in 18 sectors and Pampa and Nilakkal areas in 15 sectors. The police force and fire brigade to be deployed are fully equipped.
22 emergency medical centers on the pilgrimage routes and forest routes will be operational by November 10. There will be three ambulances at the Sannidhanam. Along with this, an off-road ambulance will also be set up on the forest route for the first time this time. Steps have been taken with the Health Department to provide doctor services at the Karimala Dispensary from the first day of the pilgrimage.
A stretcher service of 120 volunteers will be operational to shift patients to nearby treatment facilities in case of emergencies. CPR training will also be provided to nursing officers, police personnel and other staff on duty. CPR service will be provided at 22 centres.
Extensive cleaning activities will be carried out as part of the ‘Nirmalam Sabarimala’ project of the Suchitta Mission to ensure cleanliness during the pilgrimage season. A mega cleaning campaign will be organized on November 9th on all the main roads leading to Sabarimala in Pathanamthitta district under the leadership of local bodies, with the participation of people’s representatives, students and various organizations. By the 15th, the roads will be completely free of garbage.
Under the leadership of the Sanitation Society, which is headed by the District Collector and Adoor RDO Convener, about a thousand personnel will participate in the cleaning activities in Pampa, Nilakkal and Sannidhanam. The cleaning of the main centers will be completed before the opening of the temple. About 50 tons of old garbage and scrap have already been removed under the leadership of the Clean Kerala Company. The clothes left by the devotees in Pampa will be collected and removed through the Clean Kerala Company. Along with the strict implementation of the plastic ban, special bins will be installed at the main centers to segregate and deposit the garbage. Awareness and installation of notice boards will be carried out under the leadership of the Suchitha Mission.
The ‘Safe Zone’ project will be implemented on the road from Pampa to Laha under the leadership of the Motor Vehicles Department. 24-hour road safety patrolling and mobile workshop facilities will be provided as part of this. The safety audit of KSRTC buses, inspection of tractors and training for drivers have been completed. Inspection stickers will be distributed to tractors on November 11 and 12. An AI-based parking system of the police will also be set up in Nilakkal.
Drinking water and snacks will be distributed to pilgrims waiting in the queue from the first day. A prepaid counter system will be set up to ensure uniform rates for the Dolly service. Its registration will be completed by November 12. Pilgrims will be able to use the toilets at Pampa and Sannidhanam free of cost this time.
The Water Authority will ensure water availability in Pampa. The cleaning of about 30 bathing stalls and construction of barricades have been completed. Warning boards in various languages will be installed by November 12 and lighting will be ensured in and around the bathing stalls. The functioning of street lights will also be ensured in Pampa and its surroundings.
Facilities including drinking water, toilets, and mobile charging will be provided at eight transit points under local bodies. Necessary network connections will also be ensured through BSNL.
The district administration has issued orders to provide quality food and goods to the pilgrims at fixed prices. The fixed price details will be published on the official portal. Joint squads of Legal Metrology, Revenue, Health and Sanitation Society will check the price level and hygiene.
KSEB will set up a fast charging facility for electric vehicles in Pampa. The system, which can charge four vehicles simultaneously, will charge a vehicle in about half an hour. Steps are being taken to set up a charging facility in Nilakkal within 15 days.
The Devaswom Board has increased its production capacity and procured the necessary raw materials to ensure uninterrupted distribution of Appam and Aravana at the Sannidhanam. A special Emergency Operations Officer has also been appointed in Pampa to coordinate disaster relief operations.
The Public Works Department will complete the tarring of the Chalakyam-Pamba road by November 12th and the road marking work by the 15th. The meeting also assessed that a safe and smooth pilgrimage season will be ensured through proper coordination of all departments.
