Karnataka   

No hygiene around filter house Ground truth

Neglected: The Chitradurga Filter House.

The premises of the over-seven-decade-old Chitradurga Filter House constructed during the British era to supply clean drinking water to the city has become a public toilet for many people.

Damaged compound walls, rusted iron gate and filth all over the area greet visitors to the place.

Ironically, the Filter House is being renovated to house the Chitradurga museum, which has hundreds of antique materials.

The district administration in November last year decided to hand over the Filter House to Archaeological Department to shift the museum. The present museum, located in the Rangenbagilu area of the city, was set up way back in 1951 by historian the late Hullur Srinivas Jois.

Mr. Jois, who had immense passion in collecting antiques of Chitradurga, had treasured several priceless antiques which he stored inside two rooms. The museum was inaugurated by Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar.

Most of the priceless articles have been kept in a haphazard manner in the room owning to inadequate space. The museum houses over 700 ancient, valuable articles, which include stone-age weapons, rare Chinese coins of the first century A.D, coins of Shatavahana dynasty, ancient palm leaves, sculptures, scriptures and weapons used by Palegars (feudal kings).

The Filter House was chosen to house the museum since it close to the Chitradurga Fort, which attracts hundreds of visitors every day.

The Union Government under 12th Finance plan earmarked Rs. 20 lakh for the renovation of the building. According to the project, showcases are to be built inside the building where the antiques would be stored. The works were scheduled to be completed by March this year, but according to an official, owing dearth of funds they could not be completed on time. Of the Rs. 20 lakh sanctioned, the Government released only Rs. 5.6 lakh.

The official said that Department was trying its best to get the funds released from the Government to ensure the speedy completion of project.

FIROZ ROZINDAR IN CHITRADURGA

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