The Palliyoda Seva Sanghom (PSS) that organises the famous Uthrittathi snakeboat regatta in the waters of Pampa at Aranmula during the annual Onam festival has opposed the design and alignment of the bridge piers which, according the sanghom leaders, would hinder the smooth movement of the snakeboats as well as the temple vessel, Thiruvonathoni.
In a statement issued here on Monday, B.Krishnakumar Krishnaveni, PSS president, and P.R.Radhakrishnan, secretary, alleged that the alignment of the piers of the proposed bridge to be constructed parallel to the existing old bridge have been fixed without considering the snakeboat channel in the river course.
They said the alignment of the proposed bridge piers would hinder the movement of as many as 14 snakeboats (palliyodams) coming from various Palliyoda-karayogams situated on the river banks in the upstream of the Kozhencherry bridge.
Thiruvanathoni
The movement of the Thiruvanathoni too would be affected, if the Public Works Department goes ahead with the existing alignment, they said.
The PSS leaders said the Sanghom always supported and welcomed the proposal for a new bridge that could address the traffic congestion in Kozhencherry town. But, the designers should realign the piers of the proposed bridge so that it would in no way affect the smooth movement of the snakeboats and the Thiruvonathoni, the statement said.
Mr Krishnakumar further expressed the Sanghom’s protest and concern over the official indifference towards its plea to the PWD authorities to consider the free movement of the snakeboats too while designing the bridge piers.
Minister’s intervention
The PSS leaders have called for immediate intervention of the Works Minister, G.Sudhakaran, to resolve the issue at the earliest., sources said.