Mysore/Mysuru: Preparations are being made to build the city’s first hi-tech fish food stall ‘Matsya Darshini’ by Karnataka Fisheries Development Corporation Limited, near the old Deputy Commissioner’s (DC) Office.

The old building to the right side of old DC’s Office, earlier being used as a canteen, located on the footpath of the road leading towards Government Maharani’s Science College for Women, has been identified for constructing the building suitable for ‘Matsya Darshini.’ As the building had reached its dilapidated condition, it had been handed over to the Fisheries Department.

Rs. 80-lakh project

‘Matsya Darshini’ is a Rs. 80-lakh project, the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for which is prepared by the Fisheries Department. Earlier, the State Government in its Budget had announced Rs. 50 lakh for the project, to bring the authentic taste of  coastal area to food lovers in the city.

Prior to the launch of civil works to raze the building, labourers are installing poles to cover the construction site with metal sheets, to check the plume of dust from reaching the passersby. 

Against Heritage rules

Amidst this, heritage expert Prof. N.S. Rangaraju, citing heritage norms, called the permission given for the construction of ‘Matsya Darshini’ as unacceptable.

Mysuru city has been declared as Heritage City in the year 2004. As per the rules of Department of Archaeology, Museums and Heritage, no multi-storey building is permitted within 100-metre radius of any heritage structure. With old DC’s Office building being a heritage structure, the District Administration itself is violating the rules. However, there is no restriction on restoration of the structure towards its conservation, he added.