Excavation stopped at Padmanabhaswamy temple

The excavation by the archaeology department at the Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple has been stopped due to security reasons, an official said Sunday.

District Collector Biju Prabhakaran, who was recently appointed executive member of the temple administration, arrived at the temple complex Sunday, and said security of the temple was of prime importance, according to the directive of the Supreme Court.

"The directive of the Supreme Court will be adhered to, and this excavation can be held at a later date. Now it has been stopped," Prabhakaran told reporters.

The excavation that began a few days ago at the north gate of the temple had unearthed earthenware believed to be from the ninth century.

The department had approached the Kerala government for appointment of an expert panel to take forward the excavation.

On April 26, the apex court appointed an executive committee led by Thiruvananthapuram principal additional sessions judge Justice K.P. Indira, who officially took charge as the head of the administration of the Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple.

The apex court appointed the new committee on the recommendations of amicus curiae Gopal Subramaniam, who had sought overhauling of the functioning of the temple.

Prabhakaran came into the committee after his name was cleared by the state government in consultation with Justice Indira.