The Hindu : Heritage task force faces a gargantuan task

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Feb 15, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka - Mysore

Heritage task force faces a gargantuan task

By Our Staff Correspondent

MYSORE, FEB.14. The Mysore Heritage Task Force constituted by the Government to conserve monuments in Mysore and Srirangapatna has a challenging task ahead given the number of structures in the region.

Though the action plan of the task force envisages the steps to be taken to identify the heritage buildings and classify and grade them on the basis of their importance and historicity, the spadework has already been done by experts and NGOs here.

At last count, there were more than 120 structures in Mysore alone that constituted the "built heritage" of the city while the five lakes and the Chamundi Hill and its eco-system were classified under the natural precincts.

The preliminary work was carried out by NGOs in association with the Indian Institute of Architects, Mysore centre.

The survey classified the built heritage and the natural precincts of the city and identified buildings, structures, spaces, natural components, cultural routes, and cultural spaces reckoned to be important or unique to Mysore.

The survey also collected information on the period of construction, ownership, and past and present use, among others. The significance of the structure was highlighted along with its current status and the extent of intervention required to conserve it.

The expert committee will comprise architects and conservationists, besides corporate representatives.

The major heritage zones are the palace, including the Amba Vilas Palace complex constructed in 1897, the public office building (1921), the Gun House (1910), the City Municipal Office (1921), D. Banumaiah's College (1920), Janata Bazar (1920), Jaganmohan Palace (1894), Parakala Math (1850), buildings around K.R. Circle, the central monument, Town Hall (1884) etc. The Dasara procession route, which is culturally important, included Sayyaji Rao Road, the seating gallery, and the Bannimantap Grounds while the cluster of buildings around the university precincts included the Crawford Hall, the Deputy Commissioner's office, the Oriental Research Institute, and the open spaces. The functionally important heritage structures included the Vani Vilas Market and Circle, JLB Road, M.G. Road to Ramaswamy Circle, Gandhi Square, and the adjoining buildings, among others.

While the monuments could be restored for posterity and the encroachment cleared, the task force has a challenging task in conserving the Chamundi Hills and its eco-system which are part of the environmental and cultural heritage of Mysore.

Chamundi Hills is today threatened by concrete jungle mushrooming around it which includes unauthorised structures, including large residential layouts. It is pertinent to note that many of the residential areas and layouts have come up with the knowledge of the Mysore Urban Development Authority which had failed to regulate the land-use pattern around the hills. Earlier, the landscape around Chamundi Hills and the open space was protected by the concept of Nehru Loka under which the land-use pattern prohibited any construction on more than 5,000 acres in the vicinity of the hills.

However, the concept was dropped and the Government decided to denotify the land following which Chamundi Hills became vulnerable to encroachment by realtors.

The ex-officio Secretary of the task force, T.M. Vijaybhaskar, pointed out that Chamundi Hills was part of Mysore's ecological and spiritual heritage and hence the constitution of the task force might help conserve the hills and its ecosystem. But the key to conservation is in declaring a buffer zone around the hills to protect its natural, geographical, and ecological integrity.

Environmentalists and conservationists point out that the significance of Chamundi Hills and its cultural and spiritual importance for Mysore cannot be overstressed.

Besides, it is a great repository of biodiversity and helps in groundwater recharge. Described as the pride of Mysore, conservationists have called for a master plan to curb the erosion of open spaces around Chamundi Hills.

The challenge is reckoned to be immense given the growth of Mysore in all directions with new localities coming up on the eastern ridge that remained barren and uninhabited all these years.

The Mysore Agenda Task Force (MATF) submitted a plan to the Government seeking a buffer zone of 500 metres around the Chamundi Hills but the plea was ignored.

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