Uncertainty looms over the cleaning of the Padmatheertham, the main pond of the Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple, as none is shouldering the responsibility.
The Supreme Court, on Wednesday, ordered to clean the pond in a month’s time. The temple authorities are not ready to take up the responsibility all alone, stating that they cannot bear the cost of the work. “Only with a joint effort of the government, City Corporation and the temple can the cleaning work be done. If a major work, including cleaning of the pond bed, has to be carried out, a huge amount will be required,” said a temple official.
Whereas, the City Corporation says it cannot take up the work on a property that does not belong to the civic body.
‘’The cleaning work has to be done by the Temple Trust. Or, the Devaswom Board has to take up,” said Deputy Mayor G Happykumar.
The issue had come up in the previous Corporation council meeting as the Supreme Court had earlier directed the state government and Corporation to ensure that the Padmatheertham as well as the Mithranandapuram pond adjacent to Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple were cleaned in every three months.
After the council meeting, the Corporation wrote to the government seeking funds for cleaning the Padmatheertham.