Kerala   

Palace grounds in for a battering

It is an annual exercise that plays havoc with the verdant environs of the Kanakakunnu Palace and leaves behind a mess. Every year, during the Onam season, the sprawling grounds host a festival fair, attracting thousands of people. The tranquil environment turns into a noisy beehive of activity as children and adults throng the grounds. The manicured lawns are trampled upon, the flowerbeds spoilt and pots broken. It takes hardly a week to spoil a whole year of careful nurt uring.

The crowds leave behind mounds of garbage, including plastic waste and food leftovers. The garbage attracts street dogs in packs, posing a threat to the dozens of citizens who use the grounds for the daily morning walk. This year is no exception. The serene environment is under assault from both sides as the palace grounds and the Sooryakanthi venue at the rear are simultaneously being prepared to host festival fairs.

Despite pleas from concerned citizens, the Government and the Corporation have not identified a permanent venue for fairs and festivals. The Shanghumughom coastal area has been suggested as an alternative, but the proposal has never taken off.

T. Nandakumar

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