TDB May Remove Periyar Tiger Reserve Tag From Sabarimala

7 November 2013
Pathanamthitta

The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) is considering the possibility of delinking Sabarimala from the Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR).

TDB president M.P. Govindan Nair has already taken strong exception to the alleged “undue and avoidable” interference of the Forest Department in the initiatives taken by the board as well as the High Power Committee to provide basic pilgrim facilities at Sabarimala.

The TDB president was of the view that Forest officials were hampering development works by bringing up “minor” and “avoidable” issues.

He said both the TDB and HPC were particular in executing various development projects at Sabarimala in an eco-friendly manner. Moreover, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests was a member of HPC that gave the final clearance for development projects.

Devaswom Commissioner P. Venugopal said the Forest Department had objected to the TDB proposal to address the drinking water problem at the pilgrims’ base camp at Nilackal by constructing a small check-dam in the natural stream, Kaduvathode, flowing through the land in possession of the board.

The Forest Department was of the view that the roofing of the trekking path and the two queue complexes at Sabaripeedhom and Saramkuthi obstructed the movement of wild animals in the PTR.

The toilets constructed at both the queue complexes have remained closed for the past two years owing to denial of permission for the safe disposal of human waste generated there, he said. Both the TDB chief and commissioner were of the view that forests in this part of PTR had remained verdant and less disturbed only because of Sabarimala.

Source– http://www.thehindu.com

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