Pathanamthitta: Water Resources Minister N.K. Premachandran has said that elaborate arrangements have been made for the 114th Maramon Convention from February 15 to 22. The Minister was reviewing the arrangements at a meeting at the Maramon Retreat Centre on Monday. He stressed the need for keeping the convention venue, the Pampa riverbed, and its surroundings clean. The local self-government institutions and the Kerala State Pollution Control Board should check dumping of waste on the riverbanks.
The Minister said an explanation would be sought from the board authorities for not attending the meeting. The board had to play a key role in checking atmospheric and environmental pollution at Maramon, where thousands of people congregate for the largest annual Christian congregation in Asia. The Kerala Water Authority would ensure an uninterrupted supply of drinking water, he added. The Mar Thoma Evangelistic Association sought the cooperation of government departments and local bodies in ensuring a pollution-free environment.
C.K. Mathew, general secretary of the association, said the Water Resources Department and the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) should take steps to regulate water from upstream dams flowing into the Pampa during the convention.
The Minister said the district administration should ban sale of liquor in private and Kerala State Beverages Corporation outlets in the locality during the event.
K. Sivadasan Nair, MLA, and K.K. Royson, district panchayat member, said the Public Works Department should repair and maintain village roads leading to Maramon.
Sabu Abraham, Assistant Executive Engineer, said the repairs would be completed by February 10. District Collector T.T. Antony said a coordination committee, chaired by P.K. Jayasree, Revenue Divisional Officer, Thiruvalla , would closely monitor and coordinate the functioning of government agencies.