Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government has openly acknowledged its failure to fully utilise the allocated funds for the Sabarimala Master Plan, with Devaswom Minister K Radhakrishnan conceding to the mismanagement of resources both by the government and the Devaswom Board. This admission came during a discussion in the Assembly when Konni MLA K. U. Jenish Kumar raised concerns over the implementation of the Sabarimala Master Plan.
The Sabarimala Master Plan, a comprehensive development blueprint aimed at guiding the development of the revered pilgrimage site until 2050, carries a total budget of Rs 3335 crore. The state government has been allocating funds for this plan since 2011, with a cumulative sum of Rs 335 crore allocated in previous years. However, an alarming revelation has emerged: out of this budget, only Rs 141.25 crore has been expended, indicating a significant underutilization of allocated resources.
In response to the concerns raised by MLA K. U. Jenish Kumar, Minister K. Radhakrishnan stated that an additional Rs 30 crore would be allocated for development projects outlined in the Sabarimala Master Plan this year. Radhakrishnan reassured the Assembly that comprehensive development initiatives would be implemented, including the utilisation of central government contributions. However, the exact amount of the central government’s share was not disclosed during the Cabinet discussions.
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