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TEMPLE TROUBLE

The construction of an Ayappa shrine at the Idukki reservoir site in Kerala triggers an unlikely row. India Today's M.G. radhakrishnan reports.

Even as the Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh's three-day Desiya Karyakari Mandal or National Executive at Kanyakumari reiterated its demand for establishing temples in Ayodhya, Kashi and Mathura, construction activities elsewhere have kicked up a separate row. About 250 km away in Idukki district, Kerala, the Viswa Hindu Parishad (VHP) is facing much opposition to its construction of an Ayappa temple in the midst of the reservoir at the 780 m.w Idukki Hydroelectric Power Project. And unlike the communal colour of Ayodhya, the controversy here has been generated by the Kerala State Electricity Board and the state Forest Department.

It all began with a petition filed by the KSEB to stay the construction. Subsequently, the Kerala High Court directed that a status quo be maintained at the temple site pending final orders. The ongoing construction is believed to be violating both the State Electricity Act and the Central Wildlife Act 1972. "The unauthorized temple has to be demolished for no construction is allowed inside the arch dam's 60 sq km-large reservoir. The temple is likely to be submerged when the reservoir is filled with water," justifies state Power Minister Kadavoor Sivadasan. The Forest Department too has declared that the temple is unauthorized as it falls within the protected area of the Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary.

VHP Organizing Secretary Kummanam Rajasekharan will have none of this though. He says the construction of the temple was a matter of faith for the neighbouring Adivasis and other Hindus. "We don't mind if the temple gets submerged and the sanctum sanctorum is built on top of an 18 feet-high granite platform," he adds. According to Rajashekaran, the temple would remain shut during the monsoons when the reservoir is full and would open for rest of the year. Significantly, an ancient Ayyappa temple stood at the same site until 1975 during which time it was demolished to make way for the reservoir. As compensation, the KSEB had rehabilitated the temple at a cost of Rs 1.25 lakh in the 3 acres of land it made available 4 km away. "The temple was relocated without necessary rituals. The Adivasis were too weak to oppose the move at that time," says K.N. Rajendran, VHP Idukki district president.

The KSEB maintains that the temple would prevent the IHEP's (which has Asia's only arch dam) reservoir touch its full capacity by 26 per cent which would in turn reduce the production capacity at least by 800 mu. "A power-deficit state like this can ill-afford this," reasons K.R. Gopalakrishnan Nair, executive engineer of the IHPP which caters to more than 50 per cent of Kerala's power needs. The temple site is 18 km away from the arch dam.Until last November, the ancient temple site had remained almost abandoned with just an annual pilgrimage by the Adivasis during the Makaravilakk festival. But last year, the local unit of the VHP took the initiative and rebuilt the temple within a month.

Ever since, regular poojas are being conducted there. A Devaprasna (an astrological ritual) was also held. Members of the local public who support the construction say that the relocation of temple 27 years ago was "against God's wishes" because of which they had suffered many personal tragedies. "In my neighbouring family more than eight persons committed suicide in the past two decades," says T. Manoj, a local youth. "Almost 75 per cent of the women in this area are widows."

The KSEB, however, is adamant. It says the new temple and the sudden inflow of pilgrims have brought vast economic benefits to local businessmen who are funding the construction. "During the last festival season, local shops and hotels earned huge revenues," says P.N. Biju, assistant executive engineer, IHEP. "Even Christian businessmen are now supporting the unauthorized construction. "What has added a new dimension to the row is the state Government's unwillingness to give the KSEB and the Forest Department a sanction to demolish the temple. According to KSEB officials, the higher-ups in the Government have been sitting on their request for the demolition. They see a continuation of the alleged "soft Hindutva" line of the Government in general and Chief Minister A.K. Antony in particular. "The chief minister does not want to provoke the Sangh Parivar as was shown earlier in his refusal to ban the VHP's trishool deeksha (trident distribution) in the state," says a top KSEB official.

In Idukki district, no political party has anything against the new temple's construction as they fear opposition from the local community. In fact Congress (I) legislator E.M. Augusty was the first to have pledged support for the temple. "I am a Communist but want the temple to come up," says K.P. Shaji who is a member of the CPI(M)-backed Centre of Indian Trade Unions. With such endorsements, the KSEB knows it has a rough tide on its hands.

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