Treasure to remain in Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple
The Chief Minister, Mr. Oommen Chandy, has said that the treasure retrieved from the Padmanabha Swamy temple belongs to the temple and will be preserved there itself.
He said this while briefing mediapersons after a high-level meeting intended to step up the temple’s security.
“The state is responsible to give adequate protection to the wealth,” he said.
Mr Chandy’s comments are significant in the context of the debate on what to do with the treasure.
The high-level meeting decided to set up a police control room on the temple premises and carry out round the clock police patrolling.
A final shape for the security cover for the temple would be subject to Supreme Court directions, the Chief Minister said.
He also added that the opinions of the Travancore Royal family, temple priests and other stakeholders would be taken in this matter.
Mr Chandy said that the government would convey its stance to the Supreme Court through the additional chief secretary (home), Mr. K.Jayakumar, who is also a member of the SC appointed committee to prepare an inventory of the temple treasure.
The police control room will start functioning at the Fort police station, which is close to the temple, on Monday and it would be shifted as soon as a suitable place is identified at the temple premises.
Mr. Chandy also ruled out the need for seeking the service of any central agencies for providing the security for the temple.
He refused to speculate on the worth of the treasure (which is already estimated to have crossed Rs 90,000 crore) and said it would be done by the Supreme Court.
The devaswom minister, Mr. V.S.Sivakumar, the DGP, Mr. Jacob Punnoose, and other senior police officers attended the meeting.
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