Make new currency notes available to pilgrims: Kerala

The state government has discussed the problems that devotees would face following demonetisation of 1,000 and 500 rupee notes and expected favourable steps from the Centre in ensuring enough cash at the ATMs, State Minister for Devaswom Kadakampally Surendran said. 

“A letter in this regard has been sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley,” he said. “There are a number of ATMs at Pamba and Sannidhanam. But these ATMs would become empty in short time as lakhs of devotees converge there,” he said. 

Under the circumstances, adequate steps should be taken to make available cash at Sabarimala, he said. On arrangements for ‘Mandala-Makara villaku’ pilgrimage season at the Lord Ayyappa shrine, the minister said government’s effort is to make Sabarimala and its surroundings a plastic free zone by adhering to a directive of the Kerala High Court in this regard. 

“Sabarimala and surroundings will be a plastic free zone. Steps have been taken to supply free drinking water from Pamba to Sannidhanam on the trekking route to discourage people from using bottled water.” 

“The Kerala State Water Authority has installed 132 drinking water kiosks and more. A total of 11 drinking water plants have been set up,” he said. “Sabarimala is considered as a high security zone and the whole area would be under scanner of police officials through CCTV cameras,” he said.