Mysuru: The titular head of the Mysore Royal Family, Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar has reiterated his demand of restoring Lansdowne and Devaraja Market buildings in city.
The Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) had recently recommended the Government to demolish and rebuild the two heritage structures.
Speaking to presspersons at the Palace premises here yesterday, Yaduveer said that he came to know of the MCC’s decision to demolish them through the media.
Exhorting the Corporation authorities to discuss the issue again and decide in favour of saving the buildings from being reduced to a rubble, Yaduveer said that heritage experts had also aired a similar opinion in their reports.
Maintaining that experts had opined that if the buildings are restored, they could last
Pointing out that Lansdowne building was constructed in honour of Governor General of India Lord Lansdowne when he visited the city in 1892, Yaduveer said Devaraja Market was named after a prince of the royal family who died at a young age and it was important that the two heritage structures be saved from demolition.
Noting that several heritage structures in Jaipur and other cities which were on the verge of collapse were restored and are being used for commercial purposes, he said that the same should be done with Lansdowne and Devaraja Market buildings.
Calling for more discussions on the issue, Yaduveer said that the Palace was ready to discuss the issue with the Government.
Stating that the people too were inclined to save the buildings, he said that experts have also come up with the ways to restore the two prime heritage structures of the city.
When it was brought to his attention that a delegation of MCC officials led by the Mayor will be meeting him in this regard, Yaduveer said that he was not aware of any such appointment.
However, the Palace was always ready to discuss the issue with the authorities and the Government, he added.
Head of the Royal family? The royalty was abolished after India became independent, and after he death of Srikanta Datta, the Wadiyars have no male heirs. This man is just some one adopted to prattle thinking he is a Wadiyar which he is not. He seems to have no job, and one can see him , shall we say, becoming increasingly rotund , and needs a vocation.
No use arguing about Jaipur, a small place compared to Mysuru.
If Lansdowne building is to be restored at a considerable cost ( forget about the theoretical presentation of that IIT academic, as academics have no concept of real world costs), what purpose will it be put to use, bearing in mind, the shop spaces there are small with no room for an expanding business ( Geetha Book Shop example, it moved after just 1 year in that building)? Lease space or rent space costs these days are considerable.
Restored Devaraja Market sill has to address the uncompetitive pricing of fruits and vegetables due to leasing or renting of shops. Street markets sprung up these days almost in every housing extension in Mysuru, sell fruits and vegetables at a price that shops in Devaraja Market cannot sell. Even the open space vegetable market inside were expensive even in 1960s. Who would come to buy them, in a City where new housing extensions are many miles away from the Market?
The City Administration hence, took the right decision.
If he is so interested in restoration, instead of mere words, why can’t he offer to meet the restoration cost in full for both buildings? Words come easy. He is just sitting in that Palace, without any understanding of why the above two buildings became derelict, understanding the economic angle.
What Yaduveer is saying is absolutely correct. He is trying to maintain the heritage of the city which is his responsibility. People who want to destroy these buildings are the politicians who want to make money and who have no respect for the city. They should be kicked out of the city before the restoration work takes place.