THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The five-member expert committee appointed by the Supreme Court to assess the value of the treasure found in the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple here will hold a meeting on Tuesday to finalise its plans regarding opening of the ‘B’ vault and for the scientific evaluation of the treasure found in the chambers A, C, D, E and F.The expert committee will also hold meeting with the monitoring panel appointed by the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court’s observation about ‘devaprasnam’ will also come for discussion. The meeting also assumes significance against the backdrop of the findings of the Advocate Commissioner of 2008 on opened troves once again coming to the fore.The committee, headed by C V Anandabose, also informed the monitoring panel that the process of evaluation was going as per schedule.According to the Advocate Commissioner’s report in 2008, 14 green coloured stones were found broken in the ‘thankakuda’, a golden umbrella with hanging tassels made of gold and emerald stones. ‘’These hangings were attached to the umbrella by means of delicate golden threads. It was noticed that some of the golden threads were also missing. There were several cracks in the umbrella which needed urgent repair, the report had said. The report further said that from ‘Vellippidi Swarna Kuda’, which is a golden umbrella having silver handle and with hanging tassels of emerald stones covered with gold attached to the umbrella by means of golden hooks, 44 hooks were found missing and were replaced by some other metals, seems to be made of iron, copper etc. Three golden threads attaching the tassels to the top portion of the golden umbrella were also missing. In Mulapalika, two of them with design and carvings were found partly broken. This also need urgent repair. “After taking note of the above facts we have made enquiry to the Muthalpidi and the executive officer about the missing items. They were ignorant of the same. The executive officer, who has taken charge recently, has noticed these defects only when we pointed out the same to him. It is noticed by us that the temple staff are not showing proper accountability or responsibility in dealing with these ancient temple properties and there is carelessness on the part of the persons who are dealing with these valuables.’’ The report also said that the commission’s suggestion to sample the weight of oneitem in each category of valuables was strongly opposed by the palace representative Ravi Varma.
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