Thrissur, Friday, September 11, 2009: Talking to media persons at Thrissur press club, Kadannappally Ramachandran, Minister for Devaswoms said, corruption in Sabarimala would be dealt with an iron hand and the government would go ahead with its anti corruption drive.

Kadannappally Ramachandran, informed that, a meeting with Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry ministers and department secretaries would be convened in order to arrange more facilities for Sabarimala pilgrims. Last year around three crores pilgrims from neighboring state visited Sabarimala.

On the issue of constituting new Travancore and Cochin Devaswom Boards, the Minister said a consensus should be evolved after talks with all the parties concerned. Matters of law and religious rites were involved in the issue. Several decisions, including inducting more members to the Board as was done recently, could be taken only through consensus arrived at after detailed talks.

Minister added that, temples of Malabar region would be given a facelift, temple ponds would be made as water sources and necessary steps would be taken to prevent thefts at temples.