VHP Builds A
Temple In Idukki Dam
By Mukundan C. Menon
"Indian Currents"
11 May , 2003
Exhibiting its defiance and
belligerence on April 30, the Vishwa
Hindu Parishad hurriedly conducted the "idol installation ceremony"
at the "Ayyappa temple" it constructs within the reservoir
of Idukki Dam. This was done in an apparent attempt to outwit the Kerala
High Court verdict to be pronounced on Friday, May 2nd, over the ongoing
temple construction.
The VHP mobilized about 500
people from different districts to
participate in the ceremony. They were brought in different vehicles
on April 29 night. The rituals were performed by Eswaran Namboodiri,
Narayanan Namboodiri and Damodaran Namboodiri, brought in from their
native place at Kanjangad in northern Kasargode district of the State.The
550 ft high and 650 ft wide Idukki dam is the world=92s second and Asia's
first arch dam constructed across the Kuravan and Kurathi hills. Idukki
hydro-electric power station serves as the main artery
of Kerala's power needs.Notably, the High Court was to pass its order
on the writ petition filed by Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB)
on April 29, but deferred it for May 2nd as the VHP advocate was absent.
This was regarded as deliberate move by VHP to facilitate its idol nstallation
ceremony before the court pronounce the likely adverse verdict.
The VHP militants took all
precautions to counter any possible police move to stall the function.
It, however, went on smoothly since there was no move to stop VHP activity,
said to be under orders from higher ups in Thiruvananthapuram. About
hundred people are still remaining at the place where the idol was illegally
installed.The KSEB moved the High Court seeking to restrain the VHP
from continuing with the construction of the temple in the Idukki dam
reservoir area, falling in Ayyappankovil Village of Udumbanchola Taluk
in Idukki district. The reservoir area also forms part of the highly
protected Periyar Wild Life sanctuary at Thekkady.
The petition filed by KSEB
Research Division Deputy Director, K. R. Gopalakrishnan, contended that
the VHP had "no manner of right" to construct the temple "in
the protected area". Admitting the existence of a temple on the
banks of Periyar River before construction of Idukki dam, it was pointed
out that eight acres of land and Rs. One lakh resettlement amount was
allotted by the Government in 1974 for relocating the temple since the
area where the temple originally situated would submerge in the reservoir
water on completion of the dam. Accordingly, and as per then High Court
order in 1976, the original idol was installed at the newly constructed
temple at Thoppippala as per the tantric rituals. A Trust formed by
the local people and believers take care of this new temple.
As such, pujas were not performed
in the old temple from 1985 as the entire area got submerged in the
reservoir. However, of late, the VHP activists trespassed into the 30-cent
land where the old temple stood and started renovating it, the petition
pointed. On its part, the Travancore Dewaswom Board informed the High
Court that it had no knowledge of the temple construction, nor it had
any proposal for such construction, and that no temple employee was
appointed by it for that purpose.
The Ayyappankovil area remains
at a distance from the dam site. When the water level recedes during
summer, some people used to light lamps at the remains of the old temple.
This was particularly performed as a mere ritual by the local tribals,
and a tribal priest, Kiliyan Chothi, used to conduct the "poojas"
for the past more than a decade on such occasions. However, the VHP
never allowed Kiliyan Chothi anywhere near the temple for its April
30 idol installation ceremony, which was performed by the Namboodiris
(Kerala Brahmins) brought in from far away Kanjangad.
Incidentally, Idukki has
a large population of tribals in Kerala and
its main tribal sects are Muthuvan, Malayarayan, Mannan, Paliyan,
Urali, Ulladan, Malavedan and Malampandaram.The VHP took advantage of
low rainfall during the past two years to start encroaching the old
temple place in the reservoir during
October-November last year. It suddenly identified that the temple
was relocated in 1976 not according to "tantric" rituals.
In order to
give sanctity to its propaganda, the VHP conducted "Deva Prasnam"
by three astrologers and under whose opinion the temple construction
was formally started on November 18 under the guidance of Kunjambu,
a "Vaastu" Pandit who, too, hails from Kanjangad. The proposed
Sabarimala-model temple on a platform of 18 feet high and with 18 steps
was estimated to incur a total expenditure of Rs. 2 crores. Even before
completion of the temple, the VHP conducted "Makara Sankranthi"
festival on January 14 and "Vishu" festival on April 14 this
year, mainly to attract people and to establish their claim on the encroached
reservoir premises.
In spite of this open encroachment
there was no move against it from the District Administration, and KSEB-Revenue-Forest
authorities. Ironically, the temple construction was restarted after
the April 14 "Vishu" festival. The summer vacation of the
High Court also came in handy for the VHP move since the authorities
cannot get a quick stay against the illegal construction. The April
30 idol installation was also performed before completion of construction
of the temple and its "Sreekovil" (sanctum sanctorum).
Notably, on April 28 the
Udumbanchola Deputy Tahsildar served a "stop memo" to the
VHP-led committee against construction of the illegal temple within
the reservoir. Despite this, the construction was continued by participating
women and children, and about 12 of the proposed 18 feet platform of
the temple was built.On April 29, a top KSEB delegation comprising of
Research Division Director Ms. Annamma John, Executive Engineer Subramaniam,
and Asst. Executive Engineer P. N. Biju visited the spot and held discussion
with VHP Idukki District President K. N. Rajendran. The latter informed
the officials that the temple would be constructed at all costs and
irrespective of the Court verdict. "The divinity of the temple
would solve all power crisis", the VHP leader told the officials.According
to Ms. John, a final decision can only be taken after the Court verdict.
Denying lapses on the part of KSEB in preventing the illegal construction,
she said that the Board had duly informed it to the District Revenue
authorities, who are empowered to take such actions. "We informed
the District Collector and also moved the High Court.
The issue was discussed with
Minister for Power, Kadavur
Sivadasan." Pointing out that the temple within the reservoir would
adversely affect the dam and power production, she said that it was
not correct on the part of VHP to construct the temple since it was
relocated in 1976 after performing due "tantric" rituals.The
KSEB had in fact informed the District Collector in writing in December
last year about the VHP encroachment in the reservoir. The District
Collector, Rajesh Kumar Sinha, said that he was informed about the whole
thing only the other day and that he had given instruction to the RDO
to conduct a spot investigation. The fact, however, remains that despite
the "stop memo" served on April 28 by the RDO, the revenue
officials and the police were conspicuously absent when the idol installation
ceremony was held on April 30.Notably, the relocated Temple Trust of
Thoppipala, headed by its Chairman E. K. Vasu, filed a case (OS 1092)
before the Idukki Munsif Court and got a favourable verdict against
reconstruction of the temple at its old place in the reservoir in Ayyappankovil
village and using the same temple name. The VHP started the temple construction
and conducted the April 30 idol installation ceremony in violation of
this existing court verdict.
The new turn of events at
Idukki reservoir came closely on the heels of VHP supremo Ashok Singhal=92s
visit to the state and launching the "Thrishul Diksha" ceremony
at Alwaye on April 26, and threatening to "eliminate" the
entire minorities, communists and secularists. Singhal also demanded
to oust Dewaswom Minister G. Karthikeyan from the State Cabinet for
his comment that Sabarimala, where people of all religions go, is not
a temple of Hindus alone.Yet, unlike his Rajasthan counterpart Ashok
Gehlot, Chief Minister A. K. Antony opted to remain casual. On the very
day the VHP conducted the illegal idol installation at Idukki reservoir,
Antony said that his government did not intend to prevent VHP's "Thrishul"
distribution as demanded by the Opposition parties. "The traditional
communal amity in Kerala is very strong, which cannot be harmed by the
"Thrishul" distribution. Therefore there is no need for the
government to prevent it", he said at the post-Cabinet meet press
briefing.
Apart from CPI(M) State Secretary,
Pinarayi Vijayan, who took strong exception on Antony's stand, senior
Congress leader K. Karunakaran also joined issue. "Both BJP and
VHP are two sides of the same coin. They should not have any place on
Kerala soil. There is a need to pluck the menace right at the bud with
the cooperation of all. Otherwise, I am afraid, there will be catastrophe
in future", Karunakaran warned in a TV interview on May 1. Answering
a specific question on Antony=92s citing the traditional strong foundation
of communal amity in Kerala, Karunakaran quipped: "That is merely
an excuse or ploy to be inactive..."
Meanwhile, experts pointed
out that the VHP temple within the
reservoir would cause greater hardship for power in Kerala.. If the
temple was permitted to exist, the dam=92s water storage level has to
be reduced by 33 feet from above. Water is presently stored within the
123 feet space between the full reservoir level of 2,403 feet and the
low level of 2,280. Reducing water level by 33 per cent will, in turn,
reduce the water capacity of the reservoir by 50 per cent. Because of
the dam's triangle shape, the water capacity increases as it goes above.
Therefore, reducing the water level by 33 feet from above would reduce
both water capacity and power production by 50 per cent. And, if this
was not done, the VHP temple in the reservoir would be submerged in
water.
The power production capacity
of Idukki dam is 214.55 crore units. Because of the VHP temple in the
reservoir, this will have be reduced to 107.5 crore units. And, it is
bound to adversely affect the already hampered power situation in the
State, which is surviving with daily power cuts and load shedding.High
Court rejects KSEB pleaAdmitting the Advocate General=92s plea for more
time, the Kerala High Court's vaction bench on May 2 rejected the KSEB
petition seeking issuance of orders against construction of VHP temple
at Idukki dam reservoir. The VHP, on its part, informed the Court that
thetemple
construction has already been completed and the idol was installed.
The
Bench comprising Justice A. K. Basheer and Justice R. Basant said that
orders would be passed only after knowing the actual position and asked
the State Government, Superintendent of Police, Idukki, to file counter
affidavits, if any. The cae is now posted for May 6.The KSEB moved yet
another petition seeking the Courts direction to the police to clear
the encroachers from the reservoir.