Sabarimala: The Pathanamthitta district administration and the security forces have won praise for the effective implementation of the disaster management system and hygiene at Sabarimala in association with various other departments and voluntary organisations. However, they are not happy with the special passes issued to many by the Travancore Devaswom Board to enter into the sopanam during Makaravilakku.
The indiscriminate distribution of special passes without the concurrence of the police or the district collector, who is also in charge of disaster management authority, had created crowding as well as verbal arguments between security forces and devotees holding the passes near the direct entrance to sopanam near Mahakanikka.
Collector R. Girija said that she would take up the issue in the coming meetings. “Neither the district administration nor the police issued special passes. The TDB officials should have consulted the police before issuing such passes so that they would get an idea of how many persons can be accommodated in sopanam,” she said. “I congratulate the police and RAF personal who managed the issue despite a large crowd,” she added. “When we had properly planned everything, such unexpected issues could spoil the party,” said a police officer present at the spot.
Meanwhile, the devotees and others have praised the cleanliness at Sannidhanam. “Compared to the last time, the Sannidhanam as well as nearby areas have been kept clean by the authorities,” said Dhanal-akshmi Bank assistant manager T.R. Mahadevan, who was on duty at the prasadam counter. “I am not fully satisfied with our efforts, we can improve things. The next time hopefully we can implement a green protocol by avoiding disposable items too,” he added.
