MLA seeks status report of all heritage buildings in city

Mysuru: The continuous rainfall in Mysuru that has created havoc in Mysuru seems to have woken up representatives of people in city who are now going on an inspection spree to assess the misery caused by the recent rains.

Chamaraja constituency MLA L. Nagendra, who inspected Sarawathipuram Fire Brigade, a part of which had collapsed yesterday, held a meeting with district-level officers at Jaladarshini Guest House on Hunsur Road here this morning.

Addressing the meeting, Nagendra instructed the officials of Heritage Department to issue notices to the owners and in-charge officials of 132 heritage buildings identified in Mysuru by giving them a time frame to submit a report on the status of their building.

“Among the list of 200 buildings submitted, 132 were identified as heritage structure. Out of these buildings, around 85 percent of them house various Government offices. Unfortunately, owing to lack of maintenance and negligence by the people in-charge, the buildings are dilapidated and are on the verge of collapsing; Also, a few have collapsed like the Devaraja Market, Lansdowne Building and recently the Saraswathipuram Fire Brigade,” he added. 

Calling for an immediate meeting of Expert Committee on Heritage Buildings, Nagendra took a dig at previous two State Governments for neglecting heritage structures.

“I had raised the issue during the Assembly Session, but the then Chief Minister did not consider answering my queries which shows the attitude of the State Government towards heritage building,” he said. 

Nagendra also said that he would apprise Chief Minister Yediyurappa during the Dasara High Power Committee scheduled to be held on Monday (Aug.12). He also added that the Chief Minister would be invited to Mysuru to inspect the heritage buildings in the city. 

“We must consider seeking suggestion from the members of Mysore Royal Family as majority of the heritage building in city were constructed by their ancestors,” said Nagendra.

Demolish staff-quarters behind Fire Brigade: Nagendra also instructed the officials to demolish the staff quarters behind Saraswathipuram Fire Brigade as it was in a dilapidated condition.

During the meeting, the Fire Department officials informed that a report regarding the need to renovate the Saraswathipuram Fire Brigade office was submitted around four years ago but the Heritage Department had not considered the issue.

To this, the Heritage Department officials said that they had not received any such report. 

Later, Nagendra, expressing his displeasure, said that the officials lacked communication and urged them to come out with a report on the status of heritage building as early as possible.

ADC Poornima, officials of Mysuru City Corporation, Mysuru Urban Development Authority, Heritage Department, Public Works Department and Fire Department attended the meeting.