The Hindu : Kerala News : TDB reviving security surveillance project

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Wednesday, Aug 20, 2008
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Kerala

Kerala

TDB reviving security surveillance project

Radhakrishnan Kuttoor

PATHANAMTHITTA: The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) is planning to revive the proposal for installing a hi-tech security surveillance system at Sabarimala, according to its president C.K. Guptan.

Talking to The Hindu here on Tuesday, TDB president C.K. Guptan said the three-member Board was expected to approve the project in three months.

Role for Keltron

State-owned Keltron is to install the hi-tech system at Sabarimala and this is to ensure transparency in the administration of the temple and eliminate corruption.

The proposed system will facilitate recording and live transmission of various activities at Sabarimala.

The Board chief said that under the proposed system, the entire temple precincts (excluding the sanctum sanctorum) and various Devaswom offices would be monitored by high-resolution cameras round the clock.

This will ensure maximum security surveillance. Large plasma screens will be installed at various vantage points for devotees to see what is on at Sabarimala.

Mr. Guptan said he was of the view that cameras should be installed in the offices of the TDB president, members, Devaswom commissioner and in various key offices since the devotees had got every right to know what was happening there.

The Devaswom Minister also could watch the action from his office in Thiruvananthapuram once a satellite-linked security system is installed at Sabarimala.

Mr. Guptan said the administrative offices of major temples under the TDB would be linked to the TDB headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram with the help of high-resolution digital cameras in a phased manner.

He said that “corruption in the TDB, in any form and at all levels, should be checked and every effort will be made to achieve this target in the larger interests of improving the functioning of various temple Devaswoms.”

According to Mr Guptan, the proposed security surveillance system costs Rs.10 crore and the TDB is planning to implement the project through sponsorship.

Executive office

He said the TDB would decide on a proposal to shift the Sabarimala executive office to Sabarimala at its next meeting.

Mr. Guptan said he was for keeping the Lord Ayyappa temple open throughout the year as it could ease the rush of devotees there during the two-month Mandalam-Makaravilakku festival.

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