The New Indian Express 17.09.2010
Aravana production: Work may be hit
PATHANAMTHITTA: The ambitious plan for keeping buffer stock of aravana prasadam, functioning of Pampa sewage treatment plant and working of the 10-odd solid waste treatment plants are facing uncertainty despite the Kerala High Court relaxing the restrictions imposed on Travancore Devaswom Board in awarding contracts for the annual maintenance works for the forthcoming Sabarimala pilgrimage season.The High Court, as part of speeding up the annual repair and maintenance works at Sabarimala, Pampa and Nilackal, waived its earlier order of prior sanction for works which incurs an expenditure of up to Rs 2 lakh. For the contracts ranging between Rs 2 lakh and Rs 5 lakh, the power to clear the works is given to the Special Commissioner. For the projects numbering 14, ranging between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 10 lakh, the authority to sanction the contract is bestowed with the Devaswom Ombudsman.
The 14 schemes above Rs 10 lakh and above, the TDB has to seek the clearance of the High Court w ith a reference note from the Ombudsman.
Though the TDB was able to award annual maintenance contracts of 86 schemes with less than Rs 2 lakh without sanction and 25 of the 45 schemes in the second category of Rs 2 to Rs 5 lakh, the projects seeking clearance in the last two categories are yet to get approvals.
The Rs 1.75-crore annual maintenance contract of the aravana plant, including supply of diesel, for the manufacture of the prasadam at Sannidhanam is yet to be cleared. The delay in awarding the contract will affect the ambitious plan for 20 lakh containers as buffer stock of aravana prasadam when the hill-shrine opens for the Mandala-Makaravilakku season.
Pampa sewage plant: The Rs 45-lakh annual maintenance contract of the Pampa sewage treatment plant is awaiting clearance from the High Court.
The delay in getting the clearance will affect the timely functioning of the plant which, in turn, will cause environment problems in Pampa river.
Incinerators: The annual maintenance works of 10-odd incinerators located at Sannidhanam, Pampa and Nilackal will be the other likely casualty if the clearance is not given immediately.
