Punthalathazham

Punthalathazham Punthalathazham പുന്തലത്താഴം
village

Punthalathazham (പുന്തലത്തƆഴം)[Geography: 8°53'43"N 76°38'21"E] is a landlocked village situated in the Indian state of Kerala. It is located 6 kilometres east of Kollam (Quilon)city towards Kannanalloor (on Kollam-Kannanalloor road). This place has little geographical importance and serve as the tail boundary of Kollam corporation. Peoples in Punthalathazham belongs to Middle and Working classes. Most of the inhabitants in Punthalathazham are Hindus.

The village boasts of having excellent telecommunication facilities and water supply system. Almost every house got open wells for their water requirement.

Topology

Punthalathazham is in Kollam Taluk and comes under Vadakkevila Village having Population under 5000. One 50-feet height elevated concrete Water Tank is a major landmark in Punthalathazham Junction. One could stand on a higher spot and enjoy the sight of whole village.

Punthalathazham is surrounded by several small satellite villages: Palathara in the south, Second Number(രണ്ടാംനമ്പര്‍) Junction in the west, Perror in the north and Decent Junction in the east.

The terrain is flat.

Climate

Punthalathazham has a moderate climate, with heavy rains during June–August due to the southwest monsoon. Winter starts from December and continues till February. In summer, the temperature rises to a maximum of 35°C and 25°C in the winters. Annual average rainfall is 310 cm.

Government Offices

• Veterinary Hospital (മൃഗാശുപത്രി)
• Vadakkevila KrishiBhavan[Agricultural Office](കൃഷിഭവന്‍)
• Ayathil Electrical Section

One Beverage Corporation(BEVCO) is also located in Punthalathazham.

Public Facilities

The main centers of public activity in Punthalathazham consist of a market, a bus station and a library. The Y. M. V. A. Library(വായനശാല) was established in 1936. The name of the bus stop itself is Punthalathazham Junction.

• SNDP Branch
• Milma Society (പാല്‍സൊസൈറ്റി)

Recently, kudumbasree units have been added to the community.

Economy

The people of Punthalathazham are generally employed in the service and private sectors. Others are daily earners. A large number of women work in cashew factories. Many youths serves as tutors in parallel tutorials, before getting a job.

The primary crops are coconut and banana.

Educational Situation

Punthalathazham has an average literacy rate of 87%. Working class families prefers M.V.G.V.H.S.S (Meenakshi Vilasam Govt Vocational Higher Secondary School,Perror) for primary education. For Middle class and Upper class, the selection goes among: St Jude School-Mukhathala, S.M.D School( Sree Meenakshi Devasam)-Perror, Navdeep Public School, S.N public school, Vimala Hridaya Girls H.S etc. Main Higher education centers around Punthalathazham are: T.K.M College of Engineering, S.N College, Fathima Matha College, Younus College of Engineering, Perumon Engineering College,S.N Polytechnic-Kottiyam, N.S.S College-Kottiyam etc.

Scores of parallel tutorials are there.

Amenities

Hospital

• N.S Hospital
• Travancore Medical College (medicity)

Police

Under Eravipuram Police Station

Electricity

Ayathil 220 KV substation caters the demands of the industry and homes. Almost every home is electrified. KSEB has mobile repair unit in Punthalathazham. This greatly reduced supply destructions due to failure of overhead supply lines, also ensured speedy resolution of customer complaints.

Telephone/Internet

BSNL and Asianet are the broadband internet providers in Punthalathazham and provides 2 Mbit/s connections at Rs 250/- per month. Airtel, Vodafone, Idea, BSNL and Tata Indicom provides mobile phone services.

Did you know...

Crow Colony

Crow Colony(കാക്ക കോളനി) is a nick name of Punthalathazham. In between 6.00 P.M and 6.00 A.M, you can see as much as hundred times more crows than that of the entire human population here. Punthalathazham is an important hub for crows.

Pachakulam

Pachakulam(പച്ചക്കുളം)(green pond) is a pond in Punthalathazham, having beautiful light green color in all seasons. Technically it is due to the presence of a rare african payal. It is been using as arattukulam (മംഗലത്ത് നട ആറാട്ട് കുളം) of Mangalathu Temple.

Festivals

Two main festivals are, Onam Celebrations and temple festivals. Onam festival being celebrated by YMVA, various residential associations and cultural organizations.

Peroor sree meenakshi devi temple

Sree meenakshi temple(chettinada-പുത്തന്‍ നട) is a famous old temple situated near Punthalathazham at Perror. The temple is famous for the POOYAM Maholsavam on the Malayalam month of pooyam (February).

Mangalathu temple

Mangalathu temple(മംഗലത്ത് നട) Mangalathu temple is another old temple situated at Punthalathazham. The temple is famous for the MAKAYIRAM Maholsavam on the Malayalam month of makayiram (February). POOYAM Maholsavam starts two days after the end of MAKAYIRAM Maholsavam.

Politics

Punthalathazham is part of Eravipuram constituency. Peoples been selected by them are,

• N. Peethambara Kurup -M.P(2009)Indian National Congress
• A.A. Azeez -M.L.A (2011)R.S.P
• S.Bindu -Kollam Corp.Counciller (2010)U.D.F

Residential Associations

Punthalathazham is a part of Kollam Corporation and contains many Residence associations like,

• Siva Nagar
• Pulari Nagar
• Mangalathu Nagar
• Punthalathazham Nagar
• Tagore Nagar
• Meenakshi Nagar

Cultural Organizations

• Nava Kairali Sports & Arts
• Anaswara Arts & Cultural
• Swadeshabhimani

Nearest places of interest

The Koonambaikulam(വലിയകൂനംബായ്കുളം) temple is very near, a walkable distance.

• Mukathala Murari Temple (മുരാരി അമ്പലം), main deity is Lord Krishna. Murari Temple is very famous place of worship in Quilon. The last uthsavam(festival) of a malayalam year in the entire kerala takes place here.
• Vadakkevila Village Office
• KILIKOLLOOR Post Office(Pin Code 691004)
• Catholic Syrian Bank Ltd. Mukathala
• Kundara IT park -A proposed 150 to 200 crore Kollam IT park at Kundara has given a new glimpse of hope to the people. Government estimates the IT park will create up to 10,000 job opportunities in the next three to five years. The IT park is coming up at the Special Economic Zone of 40 acres (160,000 m2).
• Vellavil temple-Perror(വെള്ളാവില്‍ അമ്പലം)

Major townships around Punthalathazham are Kottiyam,Chinnakada,Kannanalloor and Kundara.

Transport

Trivandrum International airport is the nearest airport. The nearest railway stations are Kilikkollur Station(Kollam-Senkotta route) and Kollam Junction(Trivandrum-Ernakulam route). For reaching places private and K.S.R.T.C buses are also available.

Problems Facing

Perumkulam Ela is the main paddy field spread across(North-South) Punthalathazham. But earth-filling(വയല്‍ നികത്തല്‍-paddy field reclamation) is a major problem and government authorities takes no actions to promote rice production in these fiels. Lack of good drainage system leads to constant water flooding in these fields.

Timeline

YEAR	EVENTS
2011	Food Crafting program at YMVA
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020

References

1# Census India,Kerala(1971). Series9. Part 2

2# Tourist Guide to Kerala, Motilal (UK) Books of India