Rs 625 cr master plan for Sabarimala: Chandy

The Chief Minister said the previous UPA Government had handed over 13 hectare forest land between Sannidhanam and Pamba for the development of Sabarimala. Various facilities including queue complexes are functioning on this land. 

He said Rs 100 crore project has been chalked out for the development of Erumeli. The State Government has spent Rs 65 crore already for the development of Sabarimala this year and Rs 40 crore will be spent next year and development of infrastructure facilities at Sabarimala is the top priority of government, he pointed out. 

He said major chunk of pilgrims visiting Sabarimala are from South India. The state government is committed in setting up more infrastructure facilities for the pilgrims with the participation of southern states, he noted. 

Mr Chandy said a decision to allot five acres of land at Nilakkal to Southern states was taken as part of this move. Karnataka, Telangana and Tamil Nadu have expressed their interest to take over the land. 

The Chief Minister said the government expect that Andhra Pradesh would come forward soon.