Karnataka - Mysore   

Civil work at palace may affect structure: MATF

Special Correspondent

Controversy over digging of area near foundation of the palace to lay cables for sound and light show

MYSORE: The Mysore Palace, which has been dogged by controversy in the past few weeks, is in the news again for the wrong reasons. There are fresh fears that the ongoing civil work at the palace will jeopardize the safety of the existing structure.

This comes close on the heels of the hue and cry raised over the construction of a cement masonry wall for an audience gallery in connection with the sound and light programme as pat of the Dasara festivities. The wall, however, was demolished on Saturday.

The new controversy has come up over the digging of the area near the foundation of the palace to lay cables and electrical connections for the sound and light show. The contractors have dug a 1.5 metre deep trench that is 50 metres in length and nearly 2.5 feet wide on the front portion of the palace. The work commenced at break neck speed at around 9.30 p.m. on Monday so that it could be completed ahead of the Dasara programmes.

Mysore Agenda Task Force member M. Lakshmana said that the work posed a danger to the main structure as the digging process would weaken the foundation of the palace. In a memorandum submitted to the Deputy Commissioner, it was pointed out that there were chances of rainwater percolating into the ground and resulting in dampness that could weaken the structure.

He said that the patchwork and plastering of the surface did not blend with the aesthetics of the monument. "My opinion on this work as a civil engineer is that the authorities are closing the surface immediately after laying the cables without proper consolidation of the earth. Hence there is a chance of the floor having an uneven surface."

The MATF has urged the Deputy Commissioner to take the issue seriously as the palace is an important heritage structure.

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