Wadiyar Foundation ready to restore Lansdowne

The Wadiyar Heritage Centre, part of the His Highness Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar Foundation, is ready to take up the restoration of heritage structures like the Lansdowne Building and the Devaraja Market.

In a press conference, here, member of the erstwhile royal family, also the chairperson of the foundation, Pramoda Devi Wadiyar said, “According to experts, the structures can be restored rather than rebuilding them. The foundation will be happy, if the government hands over the project. We have an experts team, which renovated the Jaganmohan Palace,” she said.

Wadiyar said, the foundation aims at preserving art, architecture, culture and heritage of the nation. “It is our passion to protect the heritage structures,” she added.

The Lansdowne Building is out of bounds for the public, as a portion of it collapsed on August 12, 2012, claiming four lives.

The state government had earmarked Rs 6 crore for its restoration under its special grant of Rs 100 crore. Out of the total amount, Rs 3 crore was earmarked for restoration works, while the remaining funds were sanctioned for the drainage, electricity and civic works.

The restoration works were initiated, in February 2016, by Mumbai-based Savani Construction Company. But, it was suspended after a portion of the nearby Devaraja Market collapsed in August 2016.

While the government-constituted Heritage Committee opposed demolition of the Lansdowne Building, the task force favoured it. However, the final decision will be taken by the government.

Karnataka State Technical Task Force (KSTTF) and Heritage department conducted separate studies and have given different reports
and recommendations.

While KSTTF has recommended rebuilding of the structure, the Heritage department has suggested restoration.

More heritage structures

Wadiyar said, the floor and ceiling of the kalyanamantapa (marriage pavilion) at the Mysuru Palace needs repair works and the Palace authorities will submit a proposal to the government to take up the works.

In addition, renovation of the Karikallu Thotti, the oldest portion of the Mysuru Palace, will be taken up by the foundation. There is a need for carpentry and civil works, she said.

When asked about the pending works of Rajendra Vilas Palace atop the Chamundi Hill, Wadiyar said, the works were stopped owing to certain reasons.

The works need to start from scratch as there are no proper facilities, including infrastructure, she said.