2 months ago
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Amid an unprecedented LPG shortage, the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple has opened for the five-day monthly poojas, with authorities scrambling to guarantee that the shortage does not disrupt indispensable services for the thousands of pilgrims arriving each day.
According to officials with the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), capable quantities of LPG cylinders person been stocked for the contiguous play adjacent arsenic steps are being taken to modulate usage and trust much connected steam-based cooking systems.
“Based connected directions from the Pathanamthitta District Collector, a load of LPG cylinders was delivered astatine Pampa by Saturday day itself,” said a TDB official.
The officials besides explained that overmuch of the cooking undertaken by the TDB astatine Sabarimala, including the mentation of offerings and escaped repast distributed to devotees, is being carried retired utilizing steamers. “The usage of LPG by the devaswom committee is limited. However, it remains the superior root of cooking substance for the galore eateries operating wrong the pilgrimage zone,” the authoritative said.
The TDB had earlier approached the territory medication seeking urgent involution to code the shortage during the days erstwhile the temple remains open. Following this, the District Collector directed the District Supply Officer to analyse the contented and taxable a study to the Supply Commissioner. Accordingly, a load of LPG cylinders was rushed to Pampa to stabilise supplies.
The temple, which opened for the monthly poojas connected Saturday evening, has allowed introduction of 30,000 pilgrims connected the archetypal time and 50,000 connected the remaining days done the virtual queue and spot booking systems. Apart from feeding devotees done the annadanam programme, the TDB besides has to hole meals for astir 3,000 unit members stationed astatine Sannidhanam.
Yet the uncertainty refuses to fade. Officials admit that the contiguous banal volition past lone for the contiguous play if the disruption successful LPG proviso continues. Devotee organisations pass that the concern could rapidly spiral into a superior situation if supplies are not restored soon.
Devotee influx
“The concern whitethorn beryllium manageable for now. But it could crook hard erstwhile the temple reopens connected March 22 for the ten-day yearly festival. Tens of thousands of devotees are expected then, and the authorities volition person to enactment connected a warfare footing to guarantee that the shortage does not impact services,” said an office-bearer of the Akhila Bharatha Ayyappa Seva Sangham.
The strain is already disposable on the pilgrimage route. Several wayside eateries that usually bustle with enactment during the monthly pooja days person remained unopen owed to the deficiency of cooking gas, leaving pilgrims with less options for food.
During the Sabarimala pilgrimage, pilgrims beryllium heavy connected eateries astatine Laha, Erumeli, Kanamala, and Naranamthode. These establishments typically unfastened lone erstwhile the temple is accessible to devotees. Though immoderate of them reopened for the existent season, LPG cylinders failed to scope the outlets arsenic usual, preventing galore hotels from resuming afloat operations.
Meanwhile, a fewer establishments person already switched to firewood for cooking. Even so, astir outlets person been forced to restrict their menus to the bare essentials portion staples similar dosa and porotta person disappeared from their counters.
