States » SouthPosted at: Sep 19 2026 3:20PM


Sabarimala jaggery tender delay causes over ₹3.75 cr loss, alleges Devaswom Employees’ Front

Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 19 (UNI) The Travancore Devaswom Employees Front has alleged serious irregularities and financial loss in the auction proceedings for monopoly rights (Kuthaka Lelam) for the forthcoming Sabarimala pilgrimage season, claiming that a delay in awarding the jaggery contract alone could cost the Travancore Devaswom Board more than ₹3.75 crore.
In a statement here on Saturday, the organisation alleged that the auctions for several items, including shops, coconuts and hotels, had been significantly delayed and had not commenced, while the auction for jaggery and a few other items began only on August 9 instead of the usual practice of conducting such auctions from May.
The organisation said the jaggery bids could be opened and evaluated only on September 14 due to the delay. The contractors quoted a rate ₹7.51 per kg higher than last year's rate, whereas the price had normally increased by a maximum of around ₹1 per kg in previous years and had often declined, it claimed.
According to the Front, jaggery prices generally rise during the festival season from late July to November, covering occasions such as Ganesh Chaturthi, Navratri and Diwali. This, it said, was one of the reasons why the jaggery auction was traditionally conducted well in advance.
The organisation alleged that the contractors were aware that the delayed proceedings would leave the Board with insufficient time to invite fresh tenders and conduct another auction. As a result, they allegedly increased their quotations, knowing that the Board would have little alternative but to accept them.
Around 50 lakh kg of jaggery is required for Sabarimala, and the Front claimed that the higher rate would result in an additional expenditure of more than ₹3.75 crore for the Board this year.
The organisation alleged that the delay was deliberate and suspected that commissions were being sought from the additional amount to be paid to contractors. It also claimed that similar financial implications could arise in the case of other auction items yet to be finalised.
The Front further alleged that the Board had this year decided that contractors need to deliver the goods only up to Pamba, whereas in previous years the contractors transported the materials up to the store at Sannidhanam. According to the organisation, the change would provide substantial additional profits to contractors while shifting the financial burden of further transportation, storage and related arrangements to the Board.
It questioned the proposal to construct a godown at Pamba, create additional staff posts there and undertake stocking and inspection of goods at Pamba, pointing out that Food Safety officials could inspect the materials at Sannidhanam if required.
The organisation warned that if similar revenue leakage occurred in other auctions, Sabarimala could face a situation where expenditure exceeds revenue during the coming pilgrimage season. Such a development would adversely affect around 1,200 temples dependent on Sabarimala revenue, besides affecting Devaswom Board employees and pensioners, it said.
The Front also alleged that the authorities were incurring unnecessary expenditure by relying on funds kept in the Pension Fund and Reserve Fund under the protection of the High Court, without considering the long-term financial implications.
It further claimed that around ₹30 lakh had been spent on newspaper advertisements in Maharashtra for the jaggery auction.
The Travancore Devaswom Employees Front said it would submit a formal complaint to the Chief Minister and the Devaswom Minister seeking a special investigation committee to probe the alleged corruption and irregularities in the auction proceedings for jaggery and other Sabarimala-related items.
The organisation also demanded strict legal action under Section 32 of the Travancore-Cochin Hindu Religious Institutions Act, 1950, against Board authorities and officials allegedly responsible for deliberately delaying the auction process and causing a loss of more than ₹3.5 crore. It sought recovery of the entire alleged loss from those responsible.
UNI DS
Tags: #Sabarimala jaggery tender delay causes over ₹3.75 cr loss# alleges Devaswom Employees’ Front
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