Lansdowne building to stay intact

Only roofs of first and second floor to be restored 

City’s Lansdowne building will not be demolished, but efforts will be made for its conservation, thanks to the intervention of the State government. 

On Monday, Revenue Minister V Sreenivas Prasad, after inspecting the building disclosed that the heritage structure will not be torn down as speculated, but it would be restored at a cost of Rs 8 crore. He said that except for the roofs on the first and second floor, remainder of the structure would be untouched. Funds for the same will be kept aside for the same, and restoration works will be taken up on priority.

Following the caving in of a part of the structure in August, 2012, the Mysore City Corporation consulted experts and decided to partially demolish it by removing the roofing and walls of the structure. This move was opposed, and despite several deliberations, there was no consensus among the experts.

Following this, the government had stopped the civic body in its tracks. It had sent back the proposal to the MCC asking it to retain the structure as it was and to conserve it. The Minister said that works would be taken up as per the directive.

Commercial complex

It may be recalled that four people were buried alive after the roof of two shops caved in several months ago. Since then, the 138 year old commercial complex housing nearly 100 shops was shut for business.

Prasad said that according to reports by experts, the building was still strong, could last several more years. The government would decide on granting space for setting up shops to deceased families.

With the demolition of the Lansdowne Building stopped, the city’s other three famed markets— Devaraj market, Mandi Market and Vani Vilas Market, which have been proposed to be demolished, could be conserved in the similar manner, feel experts.