PWD to seek heritage grants for Kuttalam Palace

WITH the Madras High Court on Tuesday reaffirming that Kuttalam Palace in Tamil Nadu belongs to the Kerala government, the Public Works Department (PWD) is considering applying for heritage status and conservation grants to support its upkeep, subject to availability of funds.

- Varsha Somaraj @T'Puram

"We have been maintaining the palace for years, even as the ownership dispute with the Travancore royal family played out for nearly eight years. We secured a favourable verdict during the first LDF government's tenure and have been renting out the property since then," said Beena L, chief engineer, PWD (Buildings).

The HC's Madurai bench dismissed the royal family's petition claiming rights over the property. The verdict upheld the order issued by the Tirunelveli revenue divisional officer (RDO) saying the palace is owned by the state government.