Water resources minister Mons Joseph
During the meeting, officials said that renovation of the ghats had been completed satisfactorily and that waste at the Pamba ghats had been cleared. Barricading at the Pandalam transit point will be completed on an urgent basis, the minister said. Kottayam: Water resources minister Mons Joseph has directed officials to complete barricading at the Pamba ghat before Friday, ahead of the Sabarimala pilgrimage season. The chief engineer and the superintending engineer of the irrigation department have been tasked with the work. The minister was chairing a review meeting at the district planning committee secretariat in Pathanamthitta. The meeting assessed the progress of pilgrimage-related works by the irrigation department and Kerala Water Authority (KWA). The department will coordinate with KSEB to regulate water levels in the dams and keep the river at a safe level. Drinking water will be ensured for pilgrims waiting in queues at Pamba to proceed to Sabarimala. A temporary arrangement for drinking water along the forest path will be set up with Travancore Devaswom Board. A permanent system will be put in place after the pilgrimage, following discussions with the board and the forest department. Water kiosks and cleaning facilities from Pamba to Sannidhanam will be kept functional.