Kerala HC directs KWA, Devaswom board, other agencies to prepare for Sabarimala pilgrimage season

The Kerala High Court has directed several state agencies - the Kerala Water Authority, the Travancore Devaswom Board, the Sabarimala Development Project's Executive Engineer, and others - to prepare for the upcoming Sabarimala pilgrimage season, citing two reports by Sabarimala Special Commissioner R. Jayakrishnan. The court's concern lies in waste management and repair of KWA's main booster stations at Neelimala and Appachimedu.

The total cost of temporary reinforcement measures was ₹10 lakh, which prompted the KWA to carry out repairs by November 10. The SDP Executive Engineer is tasked with monitoring the progress of the work and conducting regular inspections. The KWA submitted a report detailing the proposed renovation of pump houses at Neelimala and Appachimedu, with an estimated cost of ₹3.21 crore.

The court emphasized the critical and time-sensitive nature of the repair work, given the approaching pilgrimage season. Previously, the court directed various entities to formulate a mechanism for waste management in Erumeli, particularly during Masa Pooja and festival seasons. The State had allocated ₹15 crore for tarring and maintaining the Chalakkayam-Pamba stretch.

High-level meetings under the chairpersonship of the Minister for Devaswom and the Chief Minister reviewed preparatory activities for the 2026-27 Sabarimala pilgrimage season. The Chief Minister directed that all pilgrimage-related preparatory works be completed by October 31. The court requested the TDB Chief Engineer to file a detailed statement, including measures taken, completion timelines, paperwork status, and quality assurance steps.