'Lights, CCTVs to be installed on Palani temple girivalam path'

Madurai: Authorities of the Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple in Palani on Tuesday informed the Madras high court that adequate lighting facilities would be provided and CCTV cameras would be installed within two weeks to prevent untoward incidents and to monitor the girivalam path.

The court was hearing a contempt petition filed by A Radhakrishnan complaining about the non-compliance of an earlier order pertaining to removal of encroachments around the girivalam path.

Earlier, the court had constituted a committee to monitor the removal of encroachments and to give suggestions for a permanent solution.

A division bench of justice D Krishnakumar and justice R Vijayakumar took note of the committee’s report which stated that the government has proposed to acquire an extent of 58 acres of land near the temple for providing additional facilities to pilgrims. The judges sought a response from the state to expedite the land acquisition proceedings.

The judges took note of the fact that the temple authorities, as suggested by the committee, are making necessary arrangements for entering into a lease deed/ agreement or seeking permission for a short term with the private land owners to use their lands for parking of vehicles. The judges directed the authorities to make necessary arrangements for vehicle parking during festival seasons and ensure that no hindrance is caused for the devotees to park their vehicles.

The counsel for the temple submitted that temporary iron barricades would be installed immediately in the vulnerable areas to prevent further encroachments, without affecting the decision of the committee for providing ingress and egress to the people who own shops in their patta lands adjacent to girivalam path.

The counsel further submitted that donors have come forward to provide two battery operated cars to the temple and the same will be operated within 10 days. With regard to the tender process for operating buses in girivalam path, e-tender has been invited. After the completion of the process, buses would be operated.

Taking into account the submissions, the judges made it clear that since the tender process had already commenced before the model code of conduct came into effect, it will not be a bar for the authorities to proceed with the same. If required, necessary permission may be obtained from the Election Commission of India.

The hearing was adjourned to Mar 21.

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