'Padmatheertham' to be restored to old glory

Thiruvananthapuram: A century-old heritage pond attached to the famous Padmanabhaswamy Temple here will soon be restored to its past glory after cleansing and renovation.

The Supreme Court appointed-administrative committee, which now manages the shrine after the recent finding of priceless treasures in its secret vaults, has begun initiatives to clean the pond "Padmatheertham" and make necessary renovations.

As part of the plan, a team of experts comprising officials of the Centre for Earth Science Studies and hydrographic survey department and disaster management personnel conducted an inspection of the pond and its surrounding structures the other day.

District Collector Biju Prabhakar, also one of the members of the temple administrative committee, said the inspection was to assess the quantity of water and silt in the pond, which has not been cleansed for the last two decades.

"As per the apex court directive, we have begun efforts to cleanse the pond and renovate it. We are planning to commence cleansing drive in November first week. Water will be drained out and silt will be removed," he said.

Steps will also be taken to purge the underwater constructions beneath the heritage pond, he said.

The renovation is estimated to cost around Rs 2-3 crore and the state government has offered financial support for the initiative, he added.

An architectural splendour, the grand temple, located in the heart of the city, has shot into fame after priceless treasure troves were found in its underground vaults. It is one of the few Hindu shrines where Lord Vishnu is seen in a reclining posture.