Forest officials on Sunday stopped the Kumily panchayat from setting up temporary toilets for Sabarimala pilgrims near the Holiday Home in Kumily, Idukki. Kumily is an important stop for pilgrims from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Puducherry. Panchayat secretary R. Ashok Kumar said hundreds of pilgrims stay overnight at the Sree Dharma Shasta Temple during the pilgrimage season. An all-party meeting and public demand led the temple authorities to ask District Collector Dineshan Cheruvatt to order the panchayat to install temporary toilets. The Collector’s order was sent to the Periyar Tiger Reserve East Deputy Director. The panchayat invited quotations and informed the Forest Department, but there was no response. When the panchayat and a contractor arrived to start work, a Forest Department team led by Thekkady Range Officer stopped them. The officer cited a Supreme Court directive banning construction on forest land but did not show any order. "The panchayat began this work based on the Collector’s direction, and we have already submitted a report to the Collector regarding the Forest Department’s intervention," said Mr. Kumar. The nearest public toilet is 1 km away, forcing many pilgrims to defecate in the open near the temple and forest. The toilets were planned to be in place until January 15. Further action will follow the Collector’s instructions. The PTR Deputy Director and Thekkady Range Officer did not comment.