Resting place for Sabarimala pilgrims at Vadasserikkara in bad shape

Vadasserikkara: The ‘edathavalam’ (resting place) for Sabarimala pilgrims built by the Kerala Tourism Department at Vadasserikkara in Pathanamthitta district spending a huge amount now resembles a forest and has become a haunt of antisocial elements. However, the District Tourism Promotion Council, which manages the property, has turned a blind eye to the situation. A project initiated by the Tourism Department to renovate the resting place was also abandoned midway.

Vadasserikkara is a major resting place for pilgrims on the Mannarakkulanji – Pamba route to Sabarimala. Hundreds of pilgrims stay at the place during the pilgrimage season and when the Lord Ayyappa Temple at Sabarimala opens for the monthly rituals. The Tourism Department acquired 30 cents of land from the Government Lower Primary School at Vadasserikkara to build a resting place having better facilities for pilgrims a few years ago.

The acquired land was in three levels and the Tourism Department constructed the buildings without altering the topography. Subsequently, an ‘edathavalam’ with facilities such as restaurant, washrooms, dormitories and rooms on the banks of the Kallar River came up.

After its inauguration, the resting place was leased to a private party, based on tenders, to operate the facilities. During the following months, pilgrims utilised the dormitories and restaurant. However, they began avoiding the place soon as the operator hiked the rents and other charges exorbitantly.

Later, the management of the ‘edathavalam’ was handed over to  Kudumbashree workers, who operated the restaurant and also carried out the maintenance of the building. But, after a few months, the authorities terminated the contract with the Kudumbashree citing a plan to start a food craft institute on the premises. During this time, the COVID-19 pandemic broke out and the resting place was shut down. Virtually abandoned since then, the building and grounds are now overgrown with vegetation.

Over the years, the buildings started crumbling and the floor of the dormitories developed cracks due to lack of maintenance. The washrooms became unusable and electrical wiring was completely damaged.

Two years ago, the Tourism Department gave a contract to renovate the property, and the building housing the temporary police station during the pilgrimage was repaired. Tiles were also laid in some dormitories. But the contractor soon stopped the work and did not even replace the doors which had been removed for laying tiles. The open doors now provide an opportunity for antisocial elements to trespass into the buildings. Residents of nearby houses said that people could now be seen drinking in the building round-the-clock. Plastic carry bags used to pack food items are also dumped over the tiles.

Similarly, loose ends of electrical wires are hanging at several places, banyan trees are growing from the walls and the rooms on the banks of the river are covered with plants. But, local people said that some strangers are often seen in the buildings.