Sir,

The article on the pathetic state of Lansdowne building (Star of Mysore dated Aug.13) comes as a shock to me. The building in the front has all along been barricaded. Hence the impression in the public was that it has been made theft-proof and that security has been well attended to this iconic building round-the-clock.

The public avoid the stinking small lane behind because it has always been used by the floating population to relieve themselves.

Now it comes as a shock that this lane has been used to steal the heritage windows  and doors. The administrators and the Police are to be squarely blamed for this. It is common sense that any building, if not maintained properly, becomes weak structurally. All that the Corporators have been doing is talk about preserving and doing nothing at all.

The Devaraja Market building is also collapsing for want of a final decision. And did they require three decades to realise that the Bell on the top of the Big Clock Tower besides the Town Hall was not responsible for the cracks in the structure? What a pity that a generation has been deprived to hear the sound of the Bell! This only goes to show how for decades, the administration has been callous in this heritage city.

– P.L. Jothindra, Ramakrishnanagar, 14.8.2023