Protests over unscientific methods stall Padmanabha temple pond renovation

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Once again, the renovation work of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple pond has courted controversy for the use of an excavator.The renovation work being executed by the Kerala State Nirmiti Kendra (KSNK) was stopped on Saturday after a section of devotees protested over the use of an excavator for shifting the granite pillars of two stone mandapams.

Travancore royal family members who visited the spot on Sunday too voiced concerns over the unscientific renovation methods. Senior member Aswathi Thirunal Gowri Lakshmi Bayi and others stood in the water as a mark of protest.The temple management has convened two meetings on Monday with different stakeholders to decide the future course of the work.

Renovation work of the pond under the Swadesh Darshan scheme of the Central Government started in full swing on February 19. On Saturday, the KSNK started dismantling pillars of the two mandapams in the pond. The roofing of the structures was dismantled earlier. 

Dilapidated stone steps on the northern side of the pond too were dismantled. The dismantled granite slabs and pillars were being shifted to the dried-up interior of the pond using an excavator when devotees under the banner of the Hindu Aikya Vedi protested. The protestors said the use of excavator was against scientific conservation techniques.M V Nair, chairman of the Supreme Court-appointed conservation committee, later said the panel had sanctioned the dismantling of only one mandapam. The second one had to be strengthened, he said, putting the KSNK on the defensive.

KSNK chief engineer Jayan Raveendran said the second mandapam had a problem with its foundation and dismantling was essential for reinforcing it. The excavator was not used for dismantling the structures, but for shifting granite slabs to the interior of the pond, he said.According to the KSNK a joint meeting of the conservation committee and temple administration committee had agreed to dismantle all mandapams except two. This was recorded in the minutes of the meeting, officials said. Meanwhile, the KSNK has asked the conservation committee to appoint a conservation engineer to oversee the works.  

“A joint meeting of the temple administration committee and conservation committee on February 19 had decided to dismantle three mandapams,” said V Ratheesan, temple executive officer.“Dismantling is necessary since the foundation of the mandapams are in a dilapidated state. The excavator can be used for shifting the huge granite slabs, but with care. We have convened a meeting of devotees on Monday evening to allay their apprehensions.” An earlier renovation work in March 2016 too had courted a controversy for using an excavator for demolishing a mandapam in the pond.