THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A review meeting on the preparations for the coming Sabarimala pilgrimage season decided not to allow vehicles to Pulmedu, where 102 pilgrims were killed in a stampede last February.The meeting, held here on Thursday under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, also discussed the draft safety manual prepared following the directive of the High Court.It was decided to do away with the pilgrim control system using ropes and to set up permanent barricades and gates for crowd control.The Chief Minister said that all southern states interested in setting up amenity centres for pilgrims will be allotted space for this at Nilackal. The Andhra Pradesh Government has already made a request in this regard. A meeting of Devaswom officials of southern states will also be held in Kottayam on October 23.TDB president Rajagopalan Nair said that shops selling "unnecessary items’’ will not be allowed at Pampa and Sannidhanam. This "de-commercialisation’’ programme will help to provide around six acres of open space for pilgrims, he said.The Rs 80-lakh project to lay concrete slabs at Pampa was progressing. Appam and aravana preparation will begin on October 27.Various departmental heads spoke on the preparations made by the respective departments for the smooth conduct of the pilgrimage.Sabarimala master plan: Additional Chief Secretary and high-power committee chairman K Jayakumar informed that several works as part of the Sabarimala Master Plan have been completed. The work on the emergency road from Triveni to the godown premises had been completed.The work on the queue complexes will be completed before November 15. From this season onwards, two roads will be available for the pilgrims to arrive and depart. The construction of the Bailey bridge had been completed. The Kerala Police Housing Construction Corporation which was entrusted with the work of the approach road has been asked to complete the task before November 7.As part of the Zero-Waste Sabarimala project, 3,000 volunteers will be deployed at Pampa and Sabarimala for cleaning and sanitation works. Maintenance works of the Swami Ayyappan road are progressing.Four nadapandals have been completed between Pampa and Marakoottam.Security: Services of National Disaster Response Force and Rapid Action Force personnel will be availed of during the pilgrimage season. A total of 1,000 special police officers will be deployed for traffic control at Chengannur, Kottayam and Tiruvalla.Medical facilities: The Health Department informed that medical teams with sufficient doctors and paramedical staff have been formed. Availability of medicines will be ensured and four cardiology centres will be opened on the trekking path.The meeting also decided to avail of the services of 38 doctors from other states who have communicated their willingness to offer services to the pilgrims. The services of 53 medical staff who had responded to a call by the Pathanamthitta District Collector will also be availed of.Devaswom Minister V S Sivakumar, Finance Minister K M Mani, Revenue Minister Thiruvanchur Radhakrishnan, Irrigation Minister P J Joseph, Health Minister Adoor Prakash, Power Minister Aryadan Mohammed, Panchayat Minister M K Muneer and Forest Minister K B Ganesh Kumar, party representatives and officials of various departments attended the meeting.
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