Sabarimala pilgrims to get better facilities

The government has decided to provide women, differently-abled and senior citizens an exclusive queue facility for darshan at the Sabarimala temple when the next two-month-long pilgrimage begins in November, said a state minister.

State Devaswom Minister V.S. Sivakumar after the first review meeting held ahead of the new season here Wednesday said that the virtual queue facility run by the Kerala police will be strengthened.

The meeting was chaired by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and attended by senior members of the cabinet.

Situated on the Western Ghat ranges, four km uphill from Pampa in Pathanamthitta district, the temple bars entry of women aged between 10 and 50 years into the temple complex.

"A better lighting facility would greet the pilgrims this year. Medicinal drinking water will be available this time. Besides, bottled water will not be permitted and there will be a total ban on plastic in the temple town," said Sivakumar. A state-of-the-art sewerage treatment plant at the hill top where the temple is located will be completed and commissioned in November," the minister said.

"This season, there will be more oxygen parlours and special arrangements will be made for distributing 'prasadam' coupons to ease the rush to purchase appam and aravana," added the minister. The local bodies in and around the temple town will be sanctioned special funds for providing basic amenities to the pilgrims.