A view of a damaged kalithattu on the premises of Vattakad Devi Temple near Vallikkunnam in Alappuzha.
Two ‘kalithattu’ structures, believed to be more than three centuries old, on the compound of Vattakad Devi Temple near Vallikkunnam in Alappuzha have been left to disintegrate with no firm measures to preserve them.
The godown is divided into two parts by wooden pillars and beams. One part is used as a store for grain and other foodstuffs where they are kept for a long time before being sold but can also be eaten by rats being that it is open thus letting in water and rodents; the other part serves as a rest stop for people who are travelling between Mavelikara and Kollam.
Last year, this structure lost its roof while many wood planks are decaying. There has been no conservation so most engravings on the wooden pillars have faded away. The Secretary of Vattakad Devi Temple advisory committee R. Shaji together with its President N. Anandan approached TDB and State government seeking renovation and preservation of these structures but unfortunately all their efforts were fruitless or less successful.
“The “kalithattu” too was built around 350 years ago. It’s significant historically as well as regarded as an emblematic feature about this region,” added Shaji saying that some decades ago a temple road would go through the spot to connect Mavelikara with Karunagappally in Kollam through here. The said structures were maintained at one point by the temple advisory committee; however, today they require serious restoration since their present conditions are pitiful according to him because there is no way how temple committee can save them from any damage without compromising their historical relevance or aesthetics.
Maintenances had already occurred there before. For instance, around 30 years ago, the upper parts covered with coconut leaves were replaced by a roofing made of tiles. This was followed by rebuilding the broken wooden floor of one of these structures using cement.
Nevertheless, TDB disclosed that two ‘kalithattu’ will be conserved. “We have prepared an estimate for preservation work on the structures but no one applied for tender. We need them to submit their suggestions so that we can draft a revised estimate which would then be used to conserve these kalithattus,” said a TDB official.
