: The Municipal Administration today sealed sewage outlets of lodges and hotels in this coastal town which were reportedly draining effluents into the 'Agnitheertham' and issued a deadline for them to build septic tanks.
Commissioner G.Kannan said various tourists Operators and Advocate commissioners of Madras High Court bench had brought to their notice that 60 lodges in the town dumped their garbage and toilet effluents into the sea, making the holy site unfit to take bath.
As per custom devotees coming to the temple first take a dip in Agnitheertham as it is believed to wash off one's sins. owever the main holy water site is now heavily polluted. Most devotees also leave their old clothes(as part of belief that sins would go) after the bath, worsening the situation, officials said.
The commissioner said devotees seldom drop their clothes in a box provided for the purpose, but in the sea.
Meanwhile tamilnadu Minister Dr.S.Sundarraj said a bypass road would be laid from Natarajapuram near Dhanushkodi to Pamban to enable fish laden vehicles transport produce without entering the town. There was also a plan to set up a tower for pilgrims to view the entire island near Ramar Palam.
The agni theertham Beach would be beautified and various steps, including appointing more sanitary staff, would be taken as part of the beautification project.
