Kottayam: The state's forest department is adopting a stand obstructing the construction activities of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), says its president A. Padmakumar. Speaking to reporters here, he said that it was intended to destroy Sabarimala.
He was responding to the high power committee report about the misuse of forest land. He also asserted that he would not resign as the TDB president as reports suggested and alleged that the forest department was interfering in creating emergency facilities.
He said no unwanted construction activities were happening in Sabarimala, but the attitude of the forest department was affecting them.
He said that the TDB's primary responsibility is to observe the rituals and poojas strictly and that the propaganda that of stopping ‘Annad-anam’ was baseless. The TDB president said they would not do anything under pressure from any corner.
The TDB has received the report of its special commissioner on the entry of women to Saba-rimala, but not presenting it in the court as it felt that was unnecessary.
