Where security system needs tightening

KOCHI: How safe are the Jewish Synagogue and the nearby monuments in the heart of the Jewish town?Though a 24-hour security system, five surveillance cameras and a barbed fence that would electrocute anybody who touches it are in place the authorities have failed to see lapses in the existing security system.Parking in the compound of the Dutch Palace and the Sree Krishna Temple which are not even 200 metres off the synagogue is unregulated. A local merchant S Jaleel said, “There are no security arrangements for the Dutch Palace which shares its compound walls with the synagogue. The protection ensured to the synagogue will be of no use if the palace is not secure. The main threat is from the vehicles that are parked in the  palace and temple premises. But since there is no regulation on the vehicles parked here, we cannot be sure if they pose a threat.It is up to the archeological department and the Kochi Devaswom Board to iron out their differences and reach an agreement on providing security to these monuments.Kochi Devaswom Board authorities say that the archaeological department is not providing the required security. Devaswom Board president Jayachandran said, “The High Court has asked the archaeological department to assign guards for the entire building which also houses the temple but it is yet to do it."The archaeological department officials don’t even allow us to build a grill  around the temple for our security citing that it is their property. Even the compound wall that has been built to protect the area of the Dutch Palace is in a dilapidated condition. Anybody can scale the compound wall and enter the area. Archaeological department assistant Superintendent Kalimuthu said, “We provide  security for the Dutch Palace and hardly any security problems can be identified.” Assistant Commissioner of Police R Salim in Mattanchery said, “There is a 24-hour surveillance at the synagogue and night patrolling at the Dutch Palace and temple. Till now we have not felt the need for tightening the security measures around the Dutch Palace and the temple.”