Century-Old Heritage Building in Neyyattinkara Faces Imminent Collapse
A heritage building belonging to the education department stands at the Neyyattinkara civil station. This structure is over one hundred years old. It now faces the serious threat of collapse. Prolonged neglect has created major safety and conservation concerns for the historic property.
Historical Significance and Current State
This building is one of the earliest constructed in the Neyyattinkara region. It first served as a boy's school. Later, it housed important government offices. These included the deputy director of education (DEO) and the assistant educational officer (AEO). A government book depot also operated from the premises.
Today, the situation is dire. The wooden framework has suffered extensive damage from termites. Regular maintenance never happened. The roof, made of corrugated iron sheets supported by timber beams, remains unrepaired. This neglect has worsened the building's overall condition significantly.
Abandonment and Decay
The problems forced authorities to take action. Textbooks and publications stored in the book depot began to rot. Officials merged the depot with the DEO office at the civil station. They vacated the room inside the heritage building.
Most education department offices later moved to a newly constructed civil station building. However, many old documents and files still remain inside the old structure. These records are deteriorating rapidly. The building is now largely unused. It has become a space where government employees' organizations paste their posters.
Local Hopes and Official Challenges
Local residents see potential in the historic structure. They point out that proper renovation and maintenance could restore it. The building could be reused for government offices. Alternatively, it could become a history museum showcasing Neyyattinkara's architectural heritage.
An education department source explained the official hurdles. Financial constraints have delayed any renovation work. Limited repairs have occurred. Doors and portions of the roof received minor maintenance last year. But these efforts are insufficient. The overall condition of the heritage structure continues to deteriorate. No comprehensive conservation plan exists currently.
Funding Plea and Government Silence
The department has informed the state government about the building's critical condition. Officials conveyed that at least Rs 1 crore is required for complete renovation. So far, no response has been received from the government.
"Once we get the fund, we can begin the renovation work," the source stated. The plea for conservation funds remains unanswered. The century-old building waits, its future uncertain as decay advances day by day.
