Sabarimala, Friday, January 13, 2012: The district administration has launched elaborate preparations to ensure a smooth and trouble-free Makaravilakku festival at Sabarimala to be held on January 15.

District administration has directed the Travancore Devaswom Board to make necessary arrangements to serve medicated drinking water and biscuits to the pilgrims waiting in the queue inside the barricades along the Marakkoottom- Sannidhanam stretch of the traditional path as they have to wait in the long-winding queue even up to 15 hours during the rush days.

A Control room for disaster management will be opened during the time of the Makaravilakku considering huge rush of devotees.

Pathanamthitta district collector and chairman of disaster management authority P Venugopal, has issued directions to officials regarding this, while reviewing the arrangements for Makaravilakku, at Sannidhanam Guest house representatives from various departments would be there in the control room which is to be held on 15th and 16th of January.

The Barricades should be completed by 13th afternoon and the concerned authority should check it, decision taken during the meeting at Pamba chaired by Minister for Devaswom, should be followed. He also gave orders to strengthen the raid by integrating all the departments, illegal annadanam should be stopped, illegal gas cylinder usage should be checked.

Anti-venom medicines should be stored sufficiently. Stringent action should be taken against to those who sell adulterated food and those sell items in a high margin than price printed. Devaswom Commissioner, M Satheeshkumar said that Board is ready to take as many devotees to the Sannidhanam during the festival and all the arrangements have been made to welcome the devotees.

S Jagadeesh, Special Officer, K K Chellappan, Police Special Officer, B Mohandas, Festival Control Officer, Kamalhar, Ranni DFO, M V Krishanankutty, Duty Magistrate and Other department heads were present at the meeting.

The flow of pilgrims would not be allowed beyond Pampa from January 14 midnight to January 15 midnight to prevent overcrowding stampede-like situation at Sabarimala and surrounding areas on the Makaravilakku day on January 15.

The Fire Force personnel would initiate measures to prevent indiscriminate storage and unauthorised storage of LPG to prevent any possible mishaps.

Also as a part of the crowd management, pilgrim vehicles would not be allowed beyond Nilackal after January 14 midnight till January 16 noon. The measure would be taken to prevent traffic bottlenecks between Pampa and Nilackal on the night of the Makaravilakku day.

(News agency)