Special Commissioner cracks down on fleecing of Sabarimala pilgrims

Taking a serious note of reports of widespread fleecing of Sabarimala pilgrims at Erumely, a key base station on the pilgrimage route, Sabarimala Special Commissioner R. Jayakrishnan took out an inspection in the temple town here and issued a series of directives to step up enforcement.

During the three-hour visit on Sunday, Mr. Jayakrishnan inspected parking areas, seasonal shops, toilet complexes, and the bathing points along the Valiyathodu stream. He instructed officials to strictly enforce the High Court-mandated ban on the sale of chemical vermilion and asked the Revenue department and the Travancore Devaswom Board to initiate action against attempts to overcharge pilgrims.

“All contractors and vendors have been directed to install boards displaying their names, licence number, and contact details, along with the approved rates for each service and product. The Commissioner also directed the TDB to provide, free of cost, the materials required for the ‘pottukuthal’ ritual at the Sastha temple,” an official said.

The commissioner also instructed the departments concerned to clear the piles of clothes and plastic waste accumulated along the stream.

The visit of the Special Commissioner comes in the wake of growing complaints about lax enforcement of pricing regulations and rampant fleecing at Erumely. Significant discrepancies between the approved rates and the prices charged for various services and items in the town have also sparked protests by devotees’ organisations.

Meanwhile, a review meeting held at the Sannidhanam on Monday decided to strictly enforce the virtual queue and spot-booking regulations mandated by the High Court for the pilgrimage season. Sabarimala ADM Arun S. Nair urged the devotees to ensure that they arrive for darshan only on the dates booked through the virtual queue system, as this was essential for crowd management and a safe pilgrimage experience.

He instructed that those with health issues, the elderly, individuals who have difficulty walking and devotees arriving with small children should avoid the traditional forest trekking path and instead reach the Sannidhanam via the Nilackal–Pampa route.

The recommendation follows concerns over increasing crowds on the forest trail and the practical challenges in providing immediate medical and ambulance support along the route.

The ADM also advised the devotees to avoid resting (laying viri) on the tractor roads in and around the Sannidhanam. With tractor movement remaining active along these routes during night-time, resting on these paths poses a significant risk of accidents.