The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Demolition in Fort St. George complex

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Wednesday, Apr 04, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Demolition in Fort St. George complex

Kannal Achuthan

It goes against the Ancient Monuments Act, says Archaeological Survey official

SETBACK FOR CONSERVATION: Part of Building XIV in Fort St George premises being demolished on Tuesday. — Photo: R. Ragu

CHENNAI: The Army is demolishing a part of one of its old buildings at Fort St. George, a move that is causing concern to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

The building was used as barracks by the British Army. The demolition will set a bad precedent for the conservation of heritage buildings, an official of the ASI Chennai Circle said.

The building is located opposite the King's Barracks (a protected monument of the ASI) in the north-western corner of the fort. Simply called Building XIV, it was used to shelter soldiers in the past. The demolition of the side and front corridors and part of the ground and first floors began three days ago.

Threat to King's Barracks

Satyabhama Badrinath, Superintending Archaeologist of ASI Chennai Circle, said the demolition went against the Ancient Monuments Act, which prohibits new construction and alteration of the existing buildings within a 100-metre radius of a protected monument — the King's Barracks, in this case.

Ms. Badrinath said the use of drilling equipment for the demolition would pose a threat to the King's Barracks, which is over 200 years old.

Panel's approval

However, Army officials said the demolition had the approval of a committee that included an ASI representative. "The committee, in its approval order dated February 6, 2006, agreed that part demolition was the best course to take," said Army Assistant Garrison Engineer P. Rajagopal.

He said families of army personnel lived near the building and were worried about the risk to their lives when large chunks of the building's first floor corridors crashed during the heavy rain in 2005. After the unsafe portions of the building were removed, the remaining structure would be protected, he said.

ASI officials said if the building had been maintained from the time it started showing signs of crumbling, the demolition could have been avoided.

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