Kanaka Durga temple authorities are said to be ignoring the advice of police to strengthen security, putting safety of the shrine at stake. Financial constraints have been cited by the Endowments Department for not being able to adhere to the alert warnings.
The police had suggested additional deployment of the Special Protection Fore (SPF) personnel, from the existing 20 to 50, in March 2013, besides installation of metal door frames and CCTV cameras at all important points on Indrakeeladri.
The law enforcers are of the view that the SPF services, confined to the main temple, should be deployed at all important locations that lead to the temple.
Other important locations like the main entrance point are currently manned by a private security agency. But the Endowments Department has turned down the proposals citing fund crunch. The higher-ups are said to have asked the temple authorities to “adjust with the existing security staff.”
The temple officials say that they incur an expenditure of Rs. 1 crore per annum on security set-up. Implementation of the police proposals would mean spending more than double this amount.
The shrine is protected by armed SPF guards and home guards. OPDSS, a private security agency, deploys 135 men, in addition to the 20 home guards and 18 SPF personnel. Though private security strength has been increased from 76 to 135, the main recommendation of augmenting the SPF has not been followed.
Of late, the temple authorities have been expressing dissatisfaction over ‘slackness’ of the security staff.
Even the security personnel admit that a foolproof security on par with Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), is not in place on Indrakeeladri.
Vulnerable points
The temple is one of the three vulnerable points that are the possible targets of terrorists in Krishna district.
Narla Tata Rao Thermal Power Station (NTTPS) near here and Prakasam Barrage are the other two places. The temple is also one of the major temples in the State that figures in the terrorists’ hit list.
Kanaka Durga Temple Executive Officer Ch. Narsing Rao said: “We plan to discuss the security aspect with City Police Commissioner soon and take steps for a foolproof security.”
Recommendation by City Police to augment the SPF has not been followed
Endowments Department has turned down the proposals citing fund crunch
