The projects meant to upgrade Vallikattukavu sacred grove into a national pilgrim-cum-bio centre have not seen the light of day.
The efforts of MLA A K Saseendran, who came up with a Rs 1 crore project for the overall development of this grove, went in vain due to the lacklustre attitude of the governments.
A few years ago when P Chathukutty was the president of Malabar Devaswom Board, an initial amount of Rs 20 lakh was sanctioned for the development of the sacred grove.
But the amount lapsed due to the negligence of the officials concerned.
“Those officials do not realize the value of nature and the importance to preserve it.
"MLA A K Saseendran, the local panchayat, the Tourism Department, Forest Department and other social activists were much supportive and interested in this project.
But everything turned awry due to the apathy of the officials,” says Chathukutty.
Moves were afoot to construct a temple in the vicinity of the sacred grove.
“There were plans to construct a temple but I have no clue about what happened to those plans. Nothing has been materialised so far.”