This story is from February 11, 2015

Chemical treatment to save palace from termites

When the swarming termites spelt trouble for Pundareekapuram temple near Thalayolaparambu near Kottayam a year ago, eating away the wooden structure at an alarming pace, the authorities tried out traditional methods to control the insects, but to no avail.
Chemical treatment to save palace from termites
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: When the swarming termites spelt trouble for Pundareekapuram temple near Thalayolaparambu near Kottayam a year ago, eating away the wooden structure at an alarming pace, the authorities tried out traditional methods to control the insects, but to no avail. None of the methods worked till the assistance of archaeology department was sought.
The chemical treatment that freed the temple from termites will now be applied to Padmanabhapuram Palace which has been included in the draft list of Unesco world heritage sites.
The 500-year-old palace with its unique wooden architecture is most likely to be declared as one among the global heritage sites. The archaeology department has roped in experienced anti-termite treatment agency for the herculean task.
The chemical treatment involves injecting concentrated chemical solution at the infected areas most likely on walls and wooden areas. The method has been successfully employed to conserve about 10 historical monuments in and outside the city from termite attack last year.
"The treatment includes making holes within a distance of 1 ft each using drilling machine at the meeting point of ground and wall. The mix of various chemical solutions is then injected scientifically making it to get saturated with the soil. This action allows the solution to block the termite colonies and resists the insect from spreading to other parts," said archaeology chemist Jaikumar.
He also said that on wooden structures the solution will be applied using brush. The action will be followed by closure of monuments for one week as a preventive measure against chemical allergies to the visitors and attenders. The process is set to begin this month and is expected to be completed by the end of March. The palace is mostly made of wood and detecting possible places of attack of termites and undertaking chemical treatment will be a time-consuming process.

Injecting the insect repellent chemical at the affected regions guarantees protection from termite attack for five years. The chemical treatment is a project under the scientific conservation of archaeological objects under the conservation wing of directorate of archaeology. "The treatment has proved successful at various other monuments," said archaeology department director G Premkumar.
The project also covers Sundaravilasom Palace at East Fort. The Hill Palace museum at Ernakulam and Koyikkal Palace at Nedumangadu are already protected with anti-termite treatment.
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