THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:Padmatheertham pond, one of the ancient ponds in the capital, will regain its past glory by the end of August. The renovation work entered its final phase and the major work remaining is the strengthening of the foundation of the damaged three-storied ‘Thanthri Madam’ located on the south-west region of the pond.
The renovation got delayed after the works were stalled on February 24 following the protest by a section of devotees, including members of the erstwhile Travancore Royal family, against the use of an excavator to shift the dismantled concrete slabs.
The issue snowballed into a controversy following which the temple administration committee convened a public meeting in which the decision to appoint a conservation expert was announced. Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran too had intervened to settle the issue. Kerala State Nirmithi Kendra has been entrusted as the implementing agency of the project. According to Jayan Raveendran, chief engineer and director-in-charge of Nirmithi Kendra, 85 per cent of the renovation works has been completed and the pond would be restored by the end of August.
“The restoration is nearing completion. The major work remaining is the strengthening of the foundation of Thanthri Madam. Since the foundation can collapse anytime, we have decided to strengthen it without demolishing the building due to its heritage aspects”, Jayan told Express. He added that scientific experts from IIT had visited the spot and advised to adopt ‘pressure grouting technology’ for strengthening the foundation.
Pressure grouting is a mechanism which involves injecting a grout material into otherwise inaccessible but interconnected pore or void space. “The injection of grouting material into the foundation would further strengthen the building and the works will begin by next week. Nailing can be done simultaneously. Then the two mandapams’ at the eastern side have to be refixed,” Jayan added.
The works are being executed using traditional materials and methods. The renovation of the pond and makeover of the outer premises of the temple form part of the Centre’s Swadesh Darshan Scheme. An amount of Rs 78.55 crore was sanctioned earlier for the pond renovation, beautification of roads around the complex and set up different pilgrim amenities.
Road beautification
The beautification of roads around Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple is yet to be completed. The officials said it will take three months to complete the work.“We are expecting to complete the beautification of roads in three months. The stretch leading to North nada is the biggest challenge as it would witness heavy rush during Onam. But, we will complete it at the earliest”, Jayan added.