PATHANAMTHITTA: From the next Sabarimala pilgrimage season, there will be no labourers to supply drinking water. Instead, the devotees trekking the hill will be supplied water through a machine.

Steel plants will be set up from Pampa to Sannidhanam to supply drinking water with medicinal properties. The plant, which operates 24 hours a day, can supply enough water for drinking and storage. Purified water from Kunnar Dam can be treated and treated with biological medicines such as Ramacham (vetiver).

The drinking water plants are being set up by a Kochi-based company. The project approved by the Devaswom Board can now be included in the master plan. The plan is to set up about 30 drinking water supply plants along the traditional route from Pampa to Sannidhanam and on Swami Ayyappan Road. Six plants will be set up in Sannidhanam.

Loss of employment

There are concerns regarding the jobs of those who provide drinking water once this project is realized. There are 450 day and night workers working on shift basis at various centers to supply drinking water. There are 100 workers at a time. The Devaswom Board says that on busy days, the workers aren't adequate to supply water to the devotees who are stopped during the climb.