Kochi: A month after the annual pilgrimage to Kerala's famous temple Sabarimala, Kerala's Pinarayi Vijayan government on Wednesday said elaborate arrangements have been made to ensure a safe darshan for the pilgrims in view of the COVID pandemic. State Devaswom Minister K Radhakrishnan told the state assembly that all basic facilities for the pilgrimage, as per government guidelines, are ready in the Lord Ayyappa temple and its premises.

He said during Question Hour that a joint collaboration of health and revenue departments to address matters in various areas, including hospital facilities at Pamba for devotees, RT-PCR tests at the foothills of the hill shrine in Pathanamthitta and nearby Erumeli Action plan has been prepared. Radhakrishnan said the review meetings of the respective departments and the Devaswom Board, the apex temple body that manages the temple, were held as part of preparations for the impending pilgrimage season. 

The minister further said that in addition to meetings to finalize vehicular facilities during the two-month-long pilgrimage season, steps are being taken to ensure adequate drinking water, food and toilet facilities in the temple premises and surrounding centres. A meeting was also called to expedite the process.

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