Makara Vilakku: Fifty forest department officials more will be appointed - Minister K Raju

Considering the Makara Vilakku rush at Sabarimala, the Forest Department will appoint 50 additional officials to assist the devotees along the traditional route. He was speaking at a review meeting held at the Pampa Forest dormitory to review the work of the Forest Department in connection with the Sabarimala pilgrimage. An Ayyappa devotee, a Tamil Nadu native,  who was killed in a wild elephant attack on the forest road, will be given a compensation of Rs 10 lakh. Pilgrims are provided with excellent service by the Forest Department.

The department has helped in freeing plastic in Sabarimala. Pilgrims have provided shelter from wild animals by setting up resting places in the traditional forest route. Hot water distribution and medical camps are also conducted for the pilgrims. The forest department is carrying out a great work along with various departments including the Devaswom and the police. He added that this will be strengthened in the coming days.
 
Kerala Chief Wild Life Warden Surendra Kumar, Travancore Devaswom Board Commissioner BS Thirumeni, Kottayam Project Tiger Field Director KR Anoop, Forest Chief Conservator Vijayanand, Deputy Director CK Habi, DFOs M Unnikrishnan, KN Shyam Mohanlal, Y Vijayan and forest officers took part in the meeting.