Renowned engineer E. Sreedharan files petition in the Kerala HC to prevent issues to Hindu temples

Petition filed as the State Govt rejected demand to change the structure of the proposed bridge over Bharatapuzha river in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) – The Kerala State Government is set to construct a bridge over Bharatapuzha river in Kerala. Regarding the structure of this bridge, renowned engineer E. Sreedharan has filed a petition in the Kerala High Court and suggested some changes. He claims that this is an attempt to remove the social and religious issues caused by the construction of this bridge. Due to the current planning of the bridge, 3 nearby temples will face some issues. The bench of Chief Justice A. Muhammad Mushtaq and Justice S. Manu refused to accept the petition and asked the State Government to clarify their stand in this matter. The Court has directed the State to submit a statement on the matter by September 9, after which the decision to accept or reject the petition shall be taken.

1. Sreedharan had proposed to move the southern end of the bridge by 200 metre. He offered free technical assistance to the State in the matter and had also submitted a letter to the Chief Minister of Kerala and the Minister of Public Works in 2022; but Sreedharan did not get any response. Hence, he approached the Court and requested to direct the State to consider his proposal to change the bridge structure.

2. According to Sreedharan’s petition, the existing plan of the proposed bridge would divide the 3 temples on river Bharatapuzha’s bank as Shri Vishnu temple at Thirunavaya on the north and the temples of Shri Shiva and Shri Brahma on the south bank at Thavanur. Hence, the present bridge plan is unscientific and violates the principles of engineering. It may cause issues for the samadhi of respected freedom fighter K. Kelappan aka the ‘Gandhi of Kerala’. Ignoring an alternative and viable proposal that would save the State exchequer by reducing the cost of construction, is grossly unfair and illegal, the petition said.

3. To this, Government advocates said that the piling work of the bridge has already started and the contractor has mobilised resources at the construction site. No property of the temple has been acquired in this process. This petition is merely an attempt to obstruct the ongoing development works.