Rameswaram a great tourist, pilgrim site:HC

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High court today described the Rameswaram Island and temple as a great tourist and pilgrim site and stressed the need for keeping them clean and tourist-friendly.
A division bench of Justice R.Sudhakar and Justice V.M.Velumani directed the Municipal Commissioner to implement the recommendations of the Advocate Commissioner for improving the amenities and conditions in the island.
The recommendations included renovating Agnitheertham (sea near the temple), cleaning it four times a day, better illumination and keeping the four 'car streets' litter-free, mobile bio-toilets, among other things.
The bench said the Municipal Commissioner should have voluntarily implemented the recommendations instead of the court directing it to do so.

The suggestions also included providing shelter for mentally-challenged persons, taking steps to get sanction of funds under Clean India project and also to enrol the island as one of the beneficiaries under AMRUT scheme under the auspices of the Urban Devleopment Ministry.
The bench said the Supreme Court was also focussing on keeping places of importance clean and the island administration should not get any adverse comment from the apex court.
It asked the Municipal Commissioner to prepare a standard operation procedure for implementing the recommendations and submit a report on October 26. They also directed the Joint Commissioner of the temple to be present on that date with regard to implementation of suggestions made for improving amenities inside the shrine.