The Hindu Business Line : TDB resents riders to forestland for Sabarimala development

THE Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Mr T.K.A. Nair, is expected to convene a meeting of all those involved in the development of Sabarimala on July 4 at Thiruvananthapuram to resolve the issues related to allotment of land at Nilakkal.

The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), which has to implement the developmental projects of the forest shrine, wanted all the conditions attached by the Forest Department to the allotment of 110 hectares of land at Nilakkal withdrawn, Mr G. Raman Nair, President, TDB told Business Line.

According to the conditions put forward by the Forest Department, all projects would have to be cleared by the department. According to the TDB President, such conditions would hamper the progress of the project and these issues have to be sorted out at the meeting, to be attended by officials from the forest department.

The Board has, however, taken possession of the entire area of 110 hectares even though only 60 hectares have been handed over officially. The Board wanted to develop the area without felling the rubber trees, he said.

At present, there are 32,000 tapping trees in 90 blocks from which the Board could make a net income of Rs 25,000 daily by selling 1,500 kg of latex, he said. The TDB would retain all the 59 workers employed by the State Farming Corporation, which was holding the land until recently, he said.

He said that parking areas would be developed at Nilakkal without felling the rubber trees. Rainwater harvesting infrastructure would also be developed in the area, which has a number ponds and a stretch of marshland. Besides, senile rubber trees in 20 hectares would be cut down and replanted with other trees and flower plants so as to convert it in to a garden. To meet the demand of the pilgrims in the next season beginning from mid-November, temporary shelters would be built along with toilets and other facilities.

Meanwhile, to get the clearance from the Supreme Court for the allotment of around 12 hectares of forestland under the Periyar Tiger Reserve at Marakoottam near Sabarimala, the government would submit an application to the apex court when it resumes after the vacation, he said.

The Buta Singh Committee, which visited Sabarimala some time back, has recommended handing over of 500 hectares of land for the development of Sabarimala, by de-linking the area from the Periyar Tiger Reserve.

Mr Nair, who had led a delegation to Tirupati and Tirumala Devasthanam, to study the infrastructure facilities there recently said that at Sabarimala that kind of infrastructure might not be suitable.

A master plan for developing Nilakkal area as a permanent transit camp with all modern amenities/ facilities for the pilgrims would be prepared soon, he said. Besides, the TDB would implement the Pampa Action Plan projects already sanctioned by the National River Conservation Programme (NRCP) involving a total investment of around Rs18 crore.

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