The UNESCO World Heritage Status still eludes the prehistoric rock art site at Edakkal in Wayanad and the 400-year-old Padmanabhapuram palace near Nagercoil in Tamil Nadu, thanks to the inertia of the State Archaeology Department.
The State government had earmarked ₹50 lakh to expedite measures to secure the status for the two protected monuments and appointed a special officer in 2013. Keralam – Museum of History and Heritage, Thiruvananthapuram, was the implementing agency of the project.
Though four years have passed and nearly ₹30 lakh spent for the purpose, the department is yet to start the documentation works for the Edakkal cave, which is known for the prehistoric petroglyphs on its walls.
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Case of the palace
The preliminary documentation work of the palace has been completed, but 3D and 360 degree documentation works, fire protection systems and other infrastructure works are yet to begin.
Predominantly made of wood, the palace is constructed in the Kerala style of architecture. Even after an advisory committee constituted by the Union Ministry of Culture included the palace, known for its woodwork, innovative design, and mural paintings, on the tentative list of world heritage sites on April 14, 2014, the department is yet to file papers seeking its inclusion on the final list.
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Realising the importance of the palace, in 1999 the government had sought international financial assistance for research and to prepare the nomination file. Though UNESCO sanctioned $16,300, not much progress was made owing to the laxity of the department officials. Moreover, the post of the special officer has remained vacant since April 31, 2016.
‘Submitted to ASI’
However, S. Raimon, director, Keralam - Museum of History and Heritage, told The Hindu that the preliminary report of the palace had been submitted to UNESCO through the Archaeology Survey of India (ASI) and the final report would be submitted in six months.
The ASI directed the Kerala Museum to conduct further studies on the Edakkal cave, Dr. Raimon said. A recent meeting convened by Minister for Archaeology and Museums Kadannappally Ramachandran had decided to extend the service of a special officer soon, he added.