Mysuru: The dilapidated century-old Maharaja High School and PU College on JLB Road in city will soon be renovated as the State Government has approved a grant of Rs. 4 crore. Of this amount, Rs. 3 crore will be utilised to renovate the building and Rs. 1 crore will be used to construct four classrooms.

Maharaja Mummadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar founded the ‘Raja Free School’ for the education of poor children in 1833. The Maharaja High School and the Maharaja Pre-University College is a continuation of the ‘Raja Free School’.

Many prominent people have studied in this 184-year-old institution including celebrated novelist R.K. Narayan, well-known cartoonist R.K. Laxman, art connoisseur K.V. Murthy, filmmaker M.S. Sathyu, former CM D. Devaraja Urs and other personalities including Vedanta Hemmige, Agaram Rangaiah, novelist Chaduranga and noted photographer T.S. Sathyan.

It may be recalled here that on July 14 this year, the birth anniversary of Mummadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar, the Alumni Association of Maharaja’s High School and PU College staged a protest demanding renovation of the college and also immediate release of funds. They alleged that successive governments have neglected the institution.

Speaking to Star of Mysore, Pre-University Board Director C. Shikha said that following the protests on July 14 she had summoned a proposal and an estimate for renovation.

“This apart, the President of the Alumni Association B.S. Sridhar Raje Urs, MLA Vasu and college Principal Siddaraju had met me in this regard,” she said.

The estimate was later sent to the government which was approved on Sept. 14. “Along with this institution, we will soon send a proposal to renovate Maharani’s Junior College on Narayan Shastri Road. A renovation estimate of Rs. 3 crore has already been prepared for this purpose,” she said.

Speaking on the government grant, MLA Vasu said that he was happy to hear that the money has been released.

“I have granted Rs. 10 lakh under the MLA fund that can be used to construct a compound wall with some additional funds,” he said.

Sridhar Raje Urs said that their protests had finally yielded some good results. “Though the money for renovation has been released, there is no mention of the compound wall that has collapsed,” he said urging the government to release funds for compound wall.