Minister assures improved facilities to Sabarimala pilgrims

Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 11 (UNI) Kerala Devaswom Minister G Sudhakaran told the State Assembly today that the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) is taking all necessay steps to provide improved facilities to pilgrims to Sabarimala during the coming festival season beginning on November 17.

Replying to a Calling Attention motion by Mr Raju Abraham (CPI-M), he said that the TDB, which administers the Sabarimala temple, would be providing basic facilities, expecting a turnout of five crore pilgrims during the coming festival season, as against three crore last year.

Stating that all works connected with providing improved amenities to the pilgrims would be completed by the end of this month, Mr Sudhakaran said that the Public Works Department has allotted Rs 15.5 crore for the immediate repair of all the 17 roads leading to Sabarimala.

Responding to another calling attention by Mr V K Ebrahim Kunju (IUML), Water Resources Minister N K Premachandran said a Rs 902 crore drainage scheme would be implemented as part of finding a solution to the water-logging problem in Kochi city.

He said that the scheme would be implemented by clubbing it with the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission.

Another scheme for the cleaning of canals in the Kochi Corporation area would also be taken up with central assistance, he added.

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