Two projects conceived to beef up the security of the Hill Palace Museum a couple of years ago have been abandoned in half-stage by the Hill Palace authorities, says sources. Though the projects including seperate transformer for Hill Palace and a second entrance, was mooted almost two years ago, there is so far no progress.
“The transformer project is yet to be completed. It is strange that a museum which possesses priceless valuables lacks a separate electricity source and still takes power from common electricity line. It poses a very serious security threat to the museum and projects must be completed immediately,” sources said.
The idea of a second entrance to the Hill Palace shares the same fate. “The authorities had built a ticket counter in the Northern side of palace complex for the second entrance. The room is now lying idle and the project has also been abandoned at half stage,” sources said.
Meanwhile, curator K R Sona said though the palace authorities had paid a total of `1.25 lakh to the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB), they are not ready to charge the transformer. “They are asking more money. However, I have sent report to the Archeological Department in this regard and the issue is being sorted out,” she said. As for second entrance, she said the museum does not have enough security personnel to set up another entrance.
“If people enter into the museum from two gates, it will be difficult for the security persons to control the inflow. A decision about the second entrance to the palace will be taken after we conduct a detailed discussion with the Archeological Department,” she said.