Thiruvananthapuram | Keralam Chief Minister V D Satheesan on Wednesday said there was no dispute between the state government and the TDB over arrangements for the upcoming Sabarimala pilgrimage and ruled out replacing the existing board.
Satheesan said a meeting chaired by him had set specific targets for various departments for the pilgrimage season and that the government had held discussions with the Travancore Devaswom Board after delays were noticed in some areas.
"There is no dispute between the government and the TDB. The government wants to conduct the pilgrimage season without complaints," he said at a press conference here after the weekly cabinet meeting.
He made it clear that the government had no plan to change the existing Devaswom Board. The annual Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season is scheduled to begin on November 17.
The TDB would have full responsibility for arrangements such as distribution of prasadam, tender procedures, preparations at Sannidhanam (temple complex) and Pampa, and maintenance and other construction works, the CM said.
Satheesan said clear instructions had been issued to the police and fire and rescue services regarding the pilgrimage. The government was also taking into account court interventions, he said.
The CM said the state had, for the first time, allocated more than Rs 600 crore for the construction and development of roads leading to Sabarimala.
His remarks came amid media reports of alleged differences between Devaswom Minister K Muraleedharan and the TDB over pilgrimage-related arrangements.
Muraleedharan had on Monday criticised the TDB over a shortage of 'aravana payasam' (sweet rice pudding) for devotees at the Lord Ayyappa shrine in Sabarimala, saying appropriate action would be taken after discussions with the CM.
He had said the government could not remain idle on the matter as it had certain responsibilities and was considering informing the Kerala High Court about its concerns over the shortage of prasadam.
Muraleedharan had said discussions with the CM would include the possibility of appointing a special team, with the permission of the High Court, to oversee the Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrimage.