Mysuru:  Following complaints of damage to century-old North Heritage Arch at the entrance of the Government Guest House and shoddy restoration works done by Mysuru City Corporation (MCC), a team of   District Heritage Committee and MCC officials visited the heritage structure this morning and took stock of the damages that have been caused during road repair works.

The panel comprising Prof N.S. Rangaraju, Maj. Gen (Retd) S.G. Vombatkere, Dr. Javed Nayeem and MCC Assistant Executive Engineer V. Shwetha inspected the damages and came up with certain recommendations to the MCC.  Speaking to Star of Mysore, Prof Rangaraju the said that the Committee would urge the MCC to take up restoration works of the damaged historical arch as per the heritage building protection norms without demolishing and damaging its originality as per the guidelines laid down by Department of Archaeology, Museums   and Heritage.

The Committee wanted the MCC to put up a rail fence around 150-year-old heritage arch which is standing like an orphan on the road. It also asked the MCC to remove the yellow solar tank installed atop the Government Guest House which has become an eyesore, marring the beauty of the heritage building.

Experts asked the MCC to restore the artistic arch which has Gandaberunda (twin-headed mystic bird), the symbol of Mysore Palace, Kalasha and the creepers which were destroyed during the repair works.  

The Committee also asked the MCC to construct new security room building at the entrance gate of Government Guest House and take up the beautification of the circle heading towards Five Light Circle. The road widening works around the heritage structure must be taken up without violating the conservation norms, the committee said.

As the Government Guest House compound has already been demolished and pushed 40 feet inside and a new compound has been built, the Committee members wanted the new compound wall to be beautified as per heritage norms. It also asked the MCC to plant saplings around the Guest House as more than five trees had been axed during road widening works.

Prof N.S. Rangaraju said that that MCC has already written a letter to the Department of Archaeology, Museums and Heritage willing to take up the task of restoring the arch and promised to fund entire amount.  

‘Restore the structure’

Mysuru, May 26- Commenting on the restoration of the heritage arch, a senior citizen who travels on the road almost every day said that it the arch must be restored as it is of immense value to the Royal City of Mysuru.

“The arch has been disfigured by authorities of Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) who have no knowledge about heritage. It has been painted many times defacing its intricate carvings and its structure has been defaced. The structure is crumbling with many carvings chipped off,” he said.  

“Lakhs of rupees are spent out of taxpayers’ money by MCC on this and I feel that the heritage structure must be restored with all its intricate carvings. The Heritage Committee must not allow the structure to be destroyed and it must be restored to its past glory. It is an important landmark and catches one’s eyes whoever passes by this way. Efforts must be made to retain it,” he opined.