Kerala HC Sets Deadlines for Agencies Ahead of 2026-27 Sabarimala Season

The Kerala High Court has set deadlines for repairs, road maintenance and other preparatory measures ahead of the 2026-27 Sabarimala pilgrimage season.

The directions cover the Kerala Water Authority (KWA), the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), the Sabarimala Development Project (SDP) and other State authorities involved in preparations for the season.

The Division Bench of Justices V. Raja Vijayaraghavan and K.V. Jayakumar issued the directions while considering two reports submitted by Sabarimala Special Commissioner R. Jayakrishnan.

Repairs to Neelimala and Appachimedu booster stations

The reports dealt with waste management in Erumely during ‘maasa puja’ and festival seasons, as well as the repair of KWA’s main booster stations at Neelimala and Appachimedu.

The court was informed that the total cost of temporary reinforcement measures would be ₹10 lakh.

It directed the KWA to carry out repairs to the booster stations in accordance with the Condition Assessment Report prepared by the Kerala Highway Research Institute before November 10.

The KWA also filed a report setting out the proposed renovation of the pump houses at Neelimala top and bottom and Appachimedu.

The total cost of the proposed renovation was estimated at ₹3.21 crore.

The KWA submitted that the repair work was critical and time-sensitive, particularly with the pilgrimage season approaching.

The court further directed the SDP Executive Engineer to monitor the progress of the work and conduct regular inspections with a structural engineer.

Waste management measures in Erumely

The Bench had earlier directed the Irrigation and Administration Department, Suchitwa Mission, the local authority and the TDB to formulate a comprehensive mechanism for the collection, segregation, transportation and effective disposal of waste generated in and around Erumeli.

The mechanism was to focus particularly on the Masa Pooja and festival seasons.

The court was informed that the areas around Valiya Thodu and Thadayana had been cleaned.

The waste-management directions form part of the wider preparations being undertaken by government departments and the TDB for the pilgrimage season.

Road work and preparation deadline

The State had allotted ₹15 crore for tarring and maintaining the Chalakkayam-Pamba stretch.

The court was also apprised of high-level meetings convened under the chairpersonship of the Minister for Devaswom and the Chief Minister to review the preparatory activities undertaken by various government departments and the TDB.

Subsequently, the Chief Minister directed that all pilgrimage-related preparatory works be completed by October 31.

The court directed the TDB Chief Engineer to file a detailed statement in person.

The statement must specify the measures taken, completion timelines, the status of paperwork and the steps taken to ensure the quality of work.

The report was published on October 09, 2026 at 09:51 am IST.

Source: The Hindu