Mysureans rejoice Supreme Court' judgement on Devaraja Market, Lansdowne Building

Mysuru: Heritage experts, activists, vendors and Mysureans rejoiced the Supreme Court's order to protect heritage structures Devaraja Market and Lansdowne Building with necessary conservation and restoration instead of demolition proposed by Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) and State government.

However, experts demand a special package for the conservation of about 600 structures in Mysuru, including 129 heritage buildings. Some experts have suggested monetising the heritage buildings for maintenance and conservation.

The MCC passed a resolution and the State government decided to demolish and reconstruct both heritage structures. Vendors of Devaraja Market, who feared losing livelihood, were against the demolition. Even as the Karnataka High Court upheld the decision of the State government to demolish and reconstruct, a petition was filed before the Supreme Court. A bench of justices J B Pardiwala and Vijay Bishnoi have now passed the order, after examining a report of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee on the condition of the structures.

Mysuru Heritage Experts Committee (HEC) member and retired professor N S Rangaraju said, "Devaraja Market is fit for restoration. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah must allot a special package for conservation and restoration of not just Devaraja Market and Lansdowne Building, but all others in Mysuru".

Ravi Bale, a retired engineer and activist, said, "I have worked in several foreign countries and have visited 35 countries. I have not come across any heritage building remaining un-utilised there. It is not possible for the State government alone to contribute funds for conservation and maintenance of so many structures. They should be monetised. Turning them into tourist destination like museum or for cinema shooting or hotels or offices or educational spaces, can generate income. Already, the Postal Training Institute, Metropole Hotel, and Mysuru Palace are put to good use. Recently, erstwhile royal family member Raja Chandra also mentioned this. It is better to conserve the heritage structures and utilise them for government projects, instead of constructing new buildings".

List

Mysuru was declared as a heritage city in 2004, and there are over 600 structures with historical importance and heritage value. HEC had asked the State government to declare 234 buildings as heritage structures in 2006. But, 129 are notified as heritage buildings by MUDA. Thirty-two structures are declared as State protected monuments and seven as Central protected monuments.

Devaraja market

In the 2024-25 budget, the State government announced Rs 35 crore for rebuilding the Lansdowne Building; and Rs 95 crore to rebuild Devaraja Market. The detailed project report (DPR) was ready for both projects. They had decided to have the same architecture. Since the case related to these structures was pending before the Supreme Court, the State government was yet to decide on allocating funds.