11 years on, watchtower project at Wayanad's Kellamvayal remains incomplete
Panamaram watchtower, an unfinished tourism project in Kellamvayal, Kerala, has been abandoned for years.
Panamaram watchtower, an unfinished tourism project in Kellamvayal, Kerala, has been abandoned for years.
Panamaram watchtower, an unfinished tourism project in Kellamvayal, Kerala, has been abandoned for years.
Panamaram: A watchtower constructed by spending several lakhs of rupees to draw tourists has been lying incomplete for years, with no steps taken to resume the pending work. The project, launched near Valiyapalam at Kellamvayal in the town, now lies abandoned and engulfed by dense vegetation.
Conceived as a viewing point for visitors to the region’s famed bird habitat, construction began 11 years ago. However, following structural flaws, the tower building was dismantled and reconstruction was started, only to halt again after completing the ground floor. Since then, the project has remained untouched.
Over time, the structure’s pillars and concrete have developed cracks, leaving it on the verge of collapse. If work is to be resumed, the existing building will have to be demolished once again. Despite its proximity to the police station, the abandoned site has reportedly become a hub for anti-social activities.
The initial plan included developing rooms on the ground floor for visitors. Although the panchayat vice president had announced in 2020 that work would resume through a separate BMC Committee and ₹10 lakh was earmarked for the purpose, nothing has materialised since.