The Kerala High Court has issued strong directions to the Travancore Devaswom Board and the state government to accelerate the construction of a biogas plant and a gas cylinder storage facility at the Sabarimala temple complex in Pathanamthitta district. The order was passed on January 28, 2026, by a bench comprising Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V. and Justice K.V. Jayakumar while hearing a suo motu petition based on a report from the Special Commissioner appointed for the Sabarimala Master Plan.
The court observed that the biogas plant — originally initiated in 2019 by a public foundation — is a matter of extreme necessity to manage organic waste generated by the heavy flow of pilgrims who visit the shrine annually. Although a substantial portion of the work had been completed earlier, the remaining construction has faced delays, partly attributed to pending government funding of around ₹72 lakh. The bench reiterated that a clear timeline for fund release and project completion must now be presented by the Devaswom Board and the state.
Regarding the gas cylinder storage plant, officials informed the court that a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Fire Department has not yet been submitted to the local Ranni-Perunad Grama Panchayat, delaying permit processing. The High Court directed the Devaswom Board to expedite the application process, ensuring that all required documentation is filed promptly so that construction can move forward without further setbacks.
The matter has been posted for further hearing on February 13, by which time the court expects the board to have placed fund availability timelines and a detailed plan for completing both projects on record. The move underscores growing judicial emphasis on improving waste management and safety infrastructure at one of India’s most visited and ecologically sensitive pilgrimage sites.
News as reported
