Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 7 (PTI) TDB President K Jayakumar on Friday said the board would ensure complete transparency in all procurement processes to prevent a recurrence of the alleged irregularities in the supply of ghee by state-run dairy cooperative Milma during the 2025-26 Sabarimala pilgrimage season.
His remarks came after a Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted following the direction of the Kerala High Court, registered a case against three persons, including former Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president P S Prasanth, over alleged irregularities in the quality and quantity of ghee supplied to the Sabarimala temple by Milma during the last pilgrimage season.
Speaking to reporters, Jayakumar said the board had initiated steps to make procurement for Sabarimala offerings more transparent.
“This should not be repeated. We have decided to ensure the highest level of transparency and caution in the procurement of all items required for Sabarimala offerings. An open tender has been invited for 24 items and today’s board meeting will finalise guidelines to make the tender process more transparent and competitive,” he said.
He said the board would also frame fresh guidelines for contract auctions (kuthaka lelam), which have also attracted complaints in the past.
“We procure large quantities of items such as jaggery, ghee, cumin and dry ginger. All procurements will be carried out through the e-tender process. People need not visit the board office in person, and all inquiries will be handled online. We are identifying and eliminating undesirable practices followed in the past,” Jayakumar said.
He said the board would not rush the tender process merely to adhere to an earlier schedule.
“It does not matter if the process began later than last year. We do not want to hurry and make mistakes. All tender procedures will be completed before November,” he said.
Replying to a question on the Vigilance report related to the alleged irregularities, Jayakumar said there was no fresh report.
“The report had already been submitted last week. The same report has been submitted to the court. There is nothing new,” he said.
Meanwhile, SIT, which started the probe into alleged irregularities in the ghee supply, has found that the decision to make procurement from state-owned Milma caused a loss of Rs 2.27 crore to the TDB.
According to officials, the contract was awarded to Milma despite objections raised by the Devaswom Commissioner.
Similarly, Food Safety officials did not conduct adequate quality testing of the ghee supplied.
The FIR also alleges that proper records relating to the procurement process and subsequent procedures were not maintained. PTI TBA TBA SA
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