JOIN USArchaeology dept to restore 20 historical monuments in state
For a change, the State Archaeology department is flush with funds, and it has enthusiastically embarked upon conservation and restoration of more than 20 monuments of historical importance in Karnataka.
In the first phase, the department has received a grant of Rs 54 crore from the Tourism department for the integrated development of ‘heritage tourism’ infrastructure, including conservation and preservation of monuments.
To start with, the department has taken up conservation works at four important Jain temples that are in a state of deterioration, so that they can be spruced up before the famed Mahamasthakabisheka celebrations in February 2018. The temples are all located in Hassan district, and works were taken up last week.
Conservation architects of the Mysuru division of the department have begun restoring the Aadhinatha temple in Marakuli village; Parshwanatha temple in Halebelgola; Shanthinath temple in Jinanathapura; Muttina Veerbhadra temple in Halebidu and ‘Pushkarani’ (pond) of Halebelagola.
Officials said that while all the four temples were in a state of dilapidation, the Parshwanatha temple in particular was in need of immediate attention. As the roots of a banyan tree has begun to uproot the very foundation of the temple, conservation architects are now in the process of removing the entire foundation and resetting the temple stones.
The department has also started restoring four temples located in the Mysuru Palace complex. The Lakshmi Ramana temple, Prasanna Krishnaswamy temple, Shwetha Varaha temple, and Trinethra temple are being restored at a cost of Rs 1.88 crore.
The department has also finally taken up conservation works on five of the eight Tipu armories, all of which have been in a state of neglect for the last many decades. While one armory located in Srirangapatna, which had received a lot of attention, has been shifted to further the Mysuru-Bengaluru rail line doubling, works on four armories located in the same taluk, will be taken up at Rs 2.96 crore.
Tourism Director and Commissioner, Archaeology, Dr N Manjula said that for the first time such a large amount has been sanctioned for the conservation and preservation of monuments located at heritage tourism site destinations.
Of the Rs 527 crore provided for the Tourism department for the year 2017-18, Rs 385 crore has been set aside to develop tourism infrastructure, and ‘world class’ tourist destinations, in collaboration with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and Department of Archaeology, Museums and Heritage.
Manjula said that the Tourism department will also be releasing fund to the ASI, which is presently preparing a list of destinations and monuments that need to be conserved/restored.
'Some monuments neglected'
A section of officials however feels that the department has not taken up works on monuments that are really in need of attention. For instance, Rs 23 lakh has been set aside for repairs of the four Kempegowda ‘gopuras’ in Bengaluru. Likewise, the department will be renovating the compound around the King Edward statue at Cubbon Park in Bengaluru at Rs 42 lakh. The budget allocated is quite exorbitant, they added.
Other works:
*Conservation of Srirangapatna fort (Rs 16.35 cr)
*Doddabasavanna temple, Basavangudi (Rs 46.50 lakh)
*Agasteshwara temple, T Narsipur (Rs 3.30 cr)
*Panchalingeshwara temple, Talakad (Rs 3.40 cr)
*Kashilingeshwara temple, Hunsur (Rs 2.40 cr)
*Chariot and mantapa in Melkote (Rs 68 lakh)
*Hirechatra, Hampi (Rs 2.90 cr)
*Forts at Bhalki, Basavakalyana, Bhatambara, Bidar (Rs 6 cr)
*Malkhed fort, Kalaburgi (Rs 6 cr)
*Tourist facilities at Magadi fort (Rs 1.98 cr)