KOCHI: In the abode of Lord Ayappa, devotees seeking a darshan must take a dip in the Pampa. It's dictated by tradition and it doesn't matter that the river, also known as Dakshin Ganga, has become unfit for bathing. Studies conducted by the Kerala State Pollution Control Board have found the coliform bacteria count in the Pampa to be 3 lakh /100ml; the maximum permissible limit is 500/100ml. Lack of proper sewage facilities, poor waste management, and unchecked sand mining have made the river a dumping site for effluents.
Every year, 2-2.5 crore pilgrims visit the temple town in the forests of Sabari hills. The congregation peaks in November-December and the second week of January. The past few decades have seen a huge rise in numbers. But infrastructure has not kept up with the influx, making it one of the most polluted places in Kerala. Sanitation facilities are inadequate and almost all the solid waste generated around the temple area ultimately reaches the Pampa. Read more
Source : articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com
