Illegal encroachment in Thiruvabharana Route to Sabarimala

Pathanamthitta: District authorities of Pathanamthitta have feigned helplessness in permanently evacuating those who have been in illegal posession of land in the famed and sanctified ‘thiruvabharana paatha’. The land which has been specifically marked and foundation laid, for the path after relentless protests and remonstrations by Hindu groups over a period of time, is now in the hands of illegal encroachers. The Revenue Board also maintains  a callous attitude towards the same. The famed, traditional and sacred route is an 83 kilometre stretch commencing from Pandalam to Laha. According to latest reports, an encroached one kilo metre stretch from Aayikkal to Blockpadi in Ranni continues to be under dispute no. effort on the part of authorities to evict them.

The famed ‘Thiruvabharanapaatha’ is the route along which the sacred adornments for Lord Ayyappa are carried in a box, on foot, during Makaravilakku festival. The path known as Pandalam Tara was well secured during the King’s rule. It comes under the jurisdiction of 12  villages of the Taluks of  Ranni and Kozhenchery,  However, owing to neglect in the later phase of time, it was confiscated by intruders.

From 1986, various Hindu organizations have submitted various memoranda regarding the same, but the response has been less than lukewarm. However, remonstrations intensified with the formation of Thiruvabharanapaatha Samrakshana in 2009, with the district collector who was in charge seeking a report on the same. Under the leadership of Kummanam Rajashekharan, the entire team undertook a painstaking task of travelling by foot and submitting a detailed report on the same. Meanwhile, as expected, the collector who aided the task of segregating the route and laying its foundation was transferred. The hands of a section of influential few, associated with the encroachers we’re suspected to be behind the matter. Subsequent collectors who assumed charge thereafter have displayed ample slack towards the matter. Encroachments continue, even on the demarcated land, with several areas turning paddy fields as well.

A total of 495 encroachments have been recorded on the Thiruvabharanapaatha. Out of these a section have displayed willingness to give up the land and have submitted relevant documents pertaining to the same. However, the Revenue Department has shown no interest in the same.

A lax attitude is being displayed by the Devaswom Board as well, which shows no interest in recovering land that has a crop of natural wealth such as mammoth trees and land which has value of crores.

Under such circumstances, Samrakshanasamiti members have taken the resolve to approach the matter legally.

Responses