Thiruvananthapuram: Security has been tightened at
Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple here which shot into fame after
discovery of priceless treasures running into hundreds of
crores of rupees in its secret cellars and underground
chambers.
As part of the multi-layered CCTV security system, 58 CCTV
cameras would be installed on vital locations in and around
the temple to ensure continuous 24x7 surveillance.
Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy formally inaugurated
the security system installed at a cost of Rs 1.5 crore at a
function here yesterday.
Speaking on the occasion, Chandy said as assured to Supreme
Court, the state government had provided fool-proof security
to the temple. Work of the security measures to be set up with
a cost of Rs nine crore had already started, he said.
State owned Keltron, that installed the entire system,
would also provide training to police personnel to operate it,
he said.
Utradom Thirunal Marthandavarama, head of the Travancore
Royal Family, which manages the temple, DGP Jacob Punnoose
were among those present on the occasion.
The opening of the cellars in the sprawling temple complex,
some of them remaining shut for over a century, has revealed
that they contain invaluable jewels, ornaments, stone-studded
crowns, vessels, platters and many other costly curios,
stashed in them.
The temple`s presiding deity is Lord Vishnu.
The wealth was revealed during an inventory ordered by the
apex court in May, while considering a private petition
demanding greater transparency in temple affairs.
PTI
