Mysuru, Oct. 23 (PM&DM)- A dilapidated heritage structure in the heart of city stands as a stark reminder of the authorities’ glaring neglect in conserving Mysuru’s rich architectural legacy.

Mysuru, known both as the Cultural Capital and the Heritage City of Karnataka, continues to lose its historic charm as old buildings fall into decay.

The nearly century-old Maharani’s Government College of Education (B.Ed. College) for Women, located on the busy N.S. Road is one such heritage structure that reflects this neglect.

The College functions under the Department of School Education (formerly the Department of Public Instruction). To promote women’s education and train them as teachers, the then ruler of Mysore, Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar, established this institution in 1928.

Dangerously dilapidated

However, decades of poor maintenance have left the building in a dangerously dilapidated state. Declared unsafe, the structure no longer houses classrooms. Classes have been shifted to an adjacent building.

The Government Maharani’s PU College and the relocated NTM School are also functioning within the same premises.

With students and staff keeping a cautious distance from the crumbling structure, no untoward incidents have occurred so far.

But the signs of decay are evident — plants, creepers and weeds have taken over the old walls, widening cracks and weakening the structure further. The building now poses a serious safety hazard and urgent restoration is needed.

This neglect draws uncomfortable parallels to past incidents involving other heritage college buildings. In January this year, a labourer died when debris from the demolition and reconstruction of nearby Maharani’s Science College for Women on JLB Road collapsed on him.

In October 2022, the roof of the decades-old Chemistry Department Laboratory at the same College had caved in. Fortunately, no one was inside.

Threat of collapse

Expressing concern, Dr. N.S. Rangaraju, Member of the Mysuru District Heritage Structures Conservation Committee, said it was deeply disappointing to see the Maharani’s Government College of Education for Women — one of Mysuru’s significant heritage landmarks — reduced to such a state of neglect.

“It is painful that a structure built by Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar for promoting women’s education has been allowed to deteriorate due to poor maintenance and lack of timely repairs,” he rued.

“The Government and the Heritage Department must take immediate measures to repair and conserve it. Continuous heavy rainfall has worsened the condition and the building could collapse at any time if urgent steps are not taken.”

The crumbling state of this institution underscores the urgent need for the Department of School Education and the Heritage Conservation authorities to act before Mysuru loses yet another monument to neglect.