Money to be spent on fixing broken chajjas and removal of plants growing on heritage structure

Broken window chajjas (marked in red) of the Oriental Research Institute located on Krishnaraja Boulevard at Ekalavya Circle near University of Mysore Crawford Hall.

Mysuru: The Oriental Research Institute (ORI) located on Krishnaraja Boulevard near University of Mysore Crawford Hall at Ekalavya Circle is one of the heritage structures in Mysuru. The institute has a vast collection of nearly 70,000 palm leaf and paper manuscripts in Sanskrit and Kannada languages including the oldest extant copy of Kautilya’s Arthashastra that dates back to 4th Century which are being digitised to preserve them for future generations.

However, the 135-year-old building, apart from being in news for preserving rare manuscripts, is always in news for its dilapidated condition. The building has several issues including leaking roofs, damaged chajjas and plants grown on the building which poses threat to  the structure.

As ORI is listed as a heritage structure, ORI Management cannot take up the repair works on its own. Even a minor repair works needs the approval from the Department of Archaeology, Museums and Heritage.

Currently, the authorities have taken up the works related to replacing chajjas, removal of plants grown on the structure and plugging leakages at a cost of Rs. 20 lakh. While the University of Mysore has released Rs. 10 lakh, Department of Archaeology, Museums and Heritage has also released Rs. 10 lakh for the repair works. Though the issues were reported about a year back, it took eight-long months for the authorities to give necessary approvals to take up the repair work.

Damaged balustrades at ORI portico.

At first, the condition of building and extent of damage was reviewed by a four-member expert committee of University of Mysore and later by Department of Archaeology, Museums and Heritage Commissioner A. Devaraj, following which an expert committee of the Department also conducted an inspection and a report was submitted with instructions and guidelines to take up the renovation works.

Speaking to Star of Mysore this morning, ORI Director Dr. D.P. Madhusudhanacharya, said, “Even a small repair works needs approval from authorities and most of the times funds are not available. If necessary funds are earmarked at the beginning of the financial year, we can take up necessary maintenance works regularly.”

It may be recalled that US Consulate, Chennai, has granted 50,000 US Dollars to ORI to take up the renovation and digitisation works during 2012. Following this, the ORI signed an MoU with Indian National Trust for Art & Cultural Heritage (INTACH), Bengaluru, to undertake the renovation works which was completed in 2015.