Irrigation Dept. to construct view tower at Aranmula

By Our Staff Reporter

PATHANAMTHITTA, MAY 22. The Irrigation Department is to construct a view tower facing the river Pampa at the Aranmula Sathram premises.

Talking to The Hindu here today, the Aranmula MLA, Mr. Kadammanitta Ramakrishnan, said the proposed view tower designed by the Aranmula Vasthu Vidya Gurukulam would facilitate hindrance-free viewing of the famous Uthrittathi snakeboat pageantry and the race in the waters of the Pampa during the Onam season.

Mr. Kadammanitta said the three-storey tower will have a projection into the river which can bring the viewers' in its balconies to a levitating experience. The architect of the Gurukulam, Mr. P. P. Surendran, who has designed the view tower said the measurements of the tower had been prepared strictly adhering to the Vasthu Sastra principles.

A spiral ladder will lead the visitors from the ground-level to the main balcony and the entire structure will be supported by decorated round pillars, said Mr. Surendran. The first-floor of the tower will provide space for an office room and visitors can have a panoramic view of the river and the snakeboat pageantry from the verandah around it.

Mr. Kadammanitta Ramakrishnan said the Irrigation Department would set up a laboratory in the second-floor of the tower. An open terrace with wooden trellis on its borders constitute the main viewer space. The tower will have a traditional pyramidal roof. The view tower with a total plinth area of 2,800 sq. ft. will cost not less than Rs. 15 lakhs, said the Gurukulam executive director, Mr. P.N. Suresh.

Mr. Kadammanitta Ramakrishnan said the foundation stone of the tower would be laid during the ensuing Onam season and the project will be completed by next Onam.

He said that another view tower would be constructed by the State Tourism Department at the Pramadathupara at Kuriyannur in Thottappuzhaserry panchayat. He said the construction work on the proposed Waterside Amenities Centre at Aranmula had been completed and it would be commissioned soon.

The work on the Rs. 2-crore tourism project on the banks of the Achenkoil river at Pandalam would also begin soon. The land acquisition for the proposed project had been completed, he added.

He said the development work on the Aranmula-Kulanada Road under the Central Road Fund (CRF) was fast progressing and the Nalkalickal Bridge, near Kidangannuur, would be inaugurated by the ensuing Onam season. The total estimate of the CRF project to develop the road as per the National Highway standards was Rs. 3.85 crores, Mr. Ramakrishnan added.

The architectural design of the proposed view tower at Aranmula.

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