The Hindu : Karnataka News : Heritage buildings to get a facelift

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Wednesday, Feb 06, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka

Heritage buildings to get a facelift

Fifteen buildings have been identified for restoration

— PHOTO: M.A.SRIRAM

A BEAUTY SPOT: Experts have called for redoing the Krishnaraja Bouleward road in consonance with its heritage value.

A SLICE of Mysore’s built heritage will get a new lease of life and be restored to its former glory under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). Although the city has about 200 heritage buildings and monuments and is listed by various organisations, including the Department of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Karnataka, and the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), 15 buildings have been identified for restoration in the initial stage and the Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been submitted in respect of the Maharaja’s Sanskrit College and the Government Boy’s High School at Lakshmipuram. With about Rs. 20 crore earmarked for conservation that is being taken up with HUDCO assistance, the project entails restoration of Devaraja Market, Lansdowne Building, Krishnarajendra Hospital, \

Ayurvedic College, Kuppanna Park, Vani Vilas Market, Seetha Vilas and Shraddanand Dharma Shala For a change, the authorities roped in the services of professional conservation architects given the magnitude of the task at hand and its importance for restoring Mysore’s built heritage to its former glory.

While the project has been in the pipeline for two years, the submission of detailed project report is reckoned to be a significant progress and the work is expected to pick up pace soon.

The detailed project report includes plan for management and development of structures in consonance with the ambience of the area in which they are located. The other structures listed for restoration include Chamarajendra Technical Institute, Maharani’s Government Women’s Science College, Maharani’s Junior College, Banumaiah High School, beautification of Hardinge Circle and the beautification of Dufferin Clock Tower.

R. Krishna Kumar in Mysore

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