4 months ago
1
With hardly a week near for the procession of beatified jewels (Thiruvabharanam) to footwear disconnected from Pandalam to Sabarimala, devotee organisations person travel retired powerfully against the deplorable information of the accepted way done which the procession volition pass.
The historical 83-km agelong from Pandalam to Sabarimala passes done much than a twelve villages crossed 2 taluks. While 43 km runs done inhabited areas, the remaining 40 km cuts done dense wood terrain, making due attraction important for the information of barefoot pilgrims.
“The Thiruvabharanam route, primitively laid by the Pandalam palace, erstwhile had a width ranging from 5 to 42 metres. Rampant encroachments person since shrunk it drastically, leaving respective stretches unsafe and virtually impassable,” said D. Vijayakumar, wide caput of the Akhila Bharatha Ayyappa Seva Sangham.
About 18 years ago, the Thiruvabharanam Patha Samrakshana Samithi moved the court, pursuing which a survey was conducted and bound stones were installed the adjacent year. However, the outfit alleges that encroachments person ne'er been afloat removed, contempt wide directions.
According to devotees, respective portions of the way are present blocked by dumped logs, stones, ungraded heaps and factual rings. Large stretches stay overgrown and damaged, posing superior risks to pilgrims during the ceremonial procession.
The work for maintaining the way successful populated areas lies with grama panchayats, the territory panchayat, the Public Works Department, and the Kerala State Transport Project. This year, however, preparatory works person reportedly lagged, allegedly owed to delays pursuing the modulation to recently elected panchayat committees.
With authoritative enactment failing to prime up pace, volunteers nether the Thiruvabharanam Patha Samrakshana Samithi person stepped in, launching shramadanam to wide overgrown stretches successful Mezhuveli, Kidangannoor and Kozhencherry. Similar volunteer-led clean-up drives are planned crossed each panchayats successful the coming days.
