Guruvayur: The Guruvayur Devaswom board is awaiting the commissioner’s approval for a Rs 5 crore project to install 240 cameras in Anakotta here. This is being done as per the High Court’s order. 

Recently, a video of a mahout beating a tusker named Shiveliparambil Krishnan had surfaced. The High Court then took a case on its own initiative and ordered installation of cameras on an immediate basis. As per the decision of the Devaswom governing body, the IT department reached Anakotta and prepared a report.

For experimental purposes, two cameras were installed and operated at key locations here. The elephants reportedly went berserk and damaged the cameras. Therefore, plans are being made to mount a shield over the cameras in a way that does not obstruct the footage. 

A ‘panic button’ system is also in the works to relay quick information in case the elephants go berserk or something happens to the visitors. This will be installed in the main areas of Anakotta. Pressing this panic button will sound an alarm.