KOCHI: Even as President Pranab Mukherjee is set to inaugurate the first phase of Muziris heritage tourism project on Saturday, the Paliam Eswara Seva Trust, which manages the palace, other properties and temples once owned by the Paliath Achans, has raised sharp criticism against commissioning the incomplete project.
The Trust has submitted a representation to the President and approached the High Court saying that the renovation of heritage monuments and the Paliam museum are yet to be completed and that dedicating the incomplete museums and heritage monuments at Paliam will diminish the glory of the event.
“Though the museums have been opened to the public on a trial basis, they are yet to be fully functional. More than 30 per cent of the major works have not been
completed. The materials on the history and exhibits have not been named and organised and even repair works are pending. The MoU signed between the Trust and the tourism department had expired in 2014 and has not been renewed,” said Mr Krishnabalan Paliath, manager of Paliam Trust.
The Trust has also filed a petition seeking an interim order directing the chief secretary to make the Paliam Nalukettu and Paliam Kovilakam functional only after entering into a fresh MoU with the Trust and incorporating a condition making it obligatory on the part of the government to complete all the works within a reasonable period.
“The members of the Paliam family are not against opening the monuments to the public. They are ready to comply with the norms agreed upon as per the MoU.
The only demand is that the government also should comply with all obligations on its part within a time-frame,” added Mr. Paliath.
