Preserving historic buildings

The heritage lovers can now rejoice and celebrate. There are good tidings for the heritage core area in city. The Government is giving final touches to constitution of heritage committee in six heritage cities and towns in state - where Mysore occupies top position along with World Heritage site Hampi.

As the work on Rajamarga is underway with some funds from Chief Minister’s grant and Mysore City Corporation (MCC) has just begun the work on upgrading the Town Hall and its premises making it a tourist attraction, there is more to come for the protection and conservation of heritage buildings. The MCC has already constituted a Heritage Cell to coordinate and monitor the projects for heritage sites. The Cell would soon be upgraded to Heritage Committee bringing in more departments like tourism, urban development and others for well-knit coordination to execute various projects.

Says Neela Manjunath, Heritage Commissioner that the department in cooperation with the MCC had submitted a detailed project report on restoration and renovation of the Maharaja Sanskrit Pathashala and the Banumaiah Boys’ High School building which come under core heritage zone under JnNURM.

“However, the central empowered committee of Jn-nurm observed that entire city of Mysore is worth a heritage and asked us to come out with a bigger plan for the conservation of heritage. As our department is small, the job of chalking out a plan is entrusted to the MCC. The plan will be discussed and finalised by the MCC in consultation with the heritage department. It is a good development that the heritage cell is formed and it will be further upgraded,” she told City Herald.

Sources in the MCC said that the MCC has prepared a detailed plan for the development of Devaraja Market, Vani Vilas Market, Mandi market and the Lansdowne building. The proposal is being given a final shape in consultation with TMD consultants, Bangalore. “The preparation of the detailed project report is in final stages. It will be completed in a month or so. The TMD will along with MCC will oversee the estimation, execution and monitoring of the project,” Nisha Naidu of TMD said.

The Devaraja market will be retained as it is while providing a restoration work for the building. While, the V V Market and the Mandi Mohalla market will get a parking facility along with the repair and restoration works.

The inner market area will also be refurbished with the upgradation of stalls and providing it a new look. The restoration work on the Lansdowne building would also be taken up. All these works will sink with the heritage value of the buildings. The MCC may seek funds from both the central and state governments through the assistance of the heritage department. The DPR will be submitted soon seeking special assistance, sources in MCC told this paper.

JnNURM project

Under the tourism component in JnNURM project, the MCC has begun work on the Rs 39.45 crore project to give a facelift to the Town Hall and its grounds and the Roads surrounding the Amba Vilas Palace. It envisages for widening of the road between Hardinge circle and K R Circle enroute Gun House and Rachaiah circle, a sarot (tonga) stand near Palace and 20 sarot stands across city and tourist information centres at a cost of Rs 16.73 crore.

The package II and III involves opening of 20 sarot stands across various places in city, basement parking area in the Town Hall premise spending Rs 17.66 crore. While, Rangacharlu Memorial Hall will be developed with air condition facilities at a cost of Rs 2.83 crore. The projects are expected to be completed before May-June 2012, source added.