Travancore Devaswom Board, Forest Department tussle over toilet razing

Kochi: The forest department has demolished toilet complexes at Sabarimala leading to yet another stand-off with the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) which is making arrangements on a war-footing for the pilgrimage season next month. “The demolition of 30 toilets is done without informing us and in violation of the state government direction. The leasing of the toilet complex alone fetch us Rs 12 lakh every year, and the total loss is estimated at Rs 50 lakh,” TDB member Ajay Tharayil told DC.

The official said the TDB will file a case with the Pampa police station and will also seek the legal remedy against the action that will cause “hardship” to lakhs of pilgrims to the hill shrine of Lord Ayyappa. The forest department, meanwhile, claimed that the complex was set up on its land and that it was hindering the free movement of animals “affecting the wildlife”. “The claim is rubbish, in fact, we have a good record of upkeep of the wildlife at Sabarimala compared to other forest areas,” Mr Tharayil said.

The board and the forest department were at loggerheads for several years over the use of the forest land. While the TDB wants it to allow basic infrastructural facilities there, the forest administration is against any new project on its land. It has also objected the erection of ‘bailippuras’ at Pampa besides the TDB auctioning forest land at Chelikkuzhy and Marakootam for tender coconut stalls and eateries.