The work to drain out water from the Padmatheertham pond as part of the renovation of the temple pond commenced on Thursday. Around 3,00,00,000 litres of water would be drained before removing the accumulated sand from the pond.
The renovated pond would have a bathing ghat, shower area, cloakroom, a covered pathway from the pond to the temple and benches. The mandapams near the pond would also be renovated. A separate facility for rainwater harvesting would be set up near the temple. The renovation of the pond is being carried out with aim to make it an attractive place to visit, an official release here said.
The renovation work would be monitored by the temple administrative committee. Health Minister V.S. Sivakumar, who also holds the Devaswom portfolio, inaugurated the draining out work in the presence of Collector Biju Prabhakar, Additional District and Sessions Judge, Thiruvananthapuram, K.P. Indira, who heads the temple administrative committee and member of the committee Vijayakumar. An expert committee with Mr. Prabhakar, project manager, Nirmithi Kendra, R. Sunil Kumar, scientist Sabu T., executive engineers of Kerala Water Authority Sreekumaran Nair and K. K. Madhu, as members was also formed. It was decided not to relocate the fish variety in the pond to Neyyar as it may endanger its life. Instead, it was decided to auction the fish after de-watering. The College of Architecture has prepared a detailed report on how to go about with the renovation work. The Mithrananthapuram pond would be also renovated after the present work, the release said.
