The historic Kalas Mahal, once part of the Chepauk Palace, may soon be a site where disputes on environmental issues will be settled.
The State government is considering allotting space for the National Green Tribunal (NGT), southern bench, at the structure that is under restoration.
Rented premises
The NGT, which is functioning from a rented premises in Arumbakkam, may be shifted to the 247-year-old building once the restoration project is complete, probably by the end of 2015.
According to the Public Works Department, the NGT had submitted a proposal to shift to the ground floor of the Kalas Mahal and it is under the scrutiny of the government.
The tribunal has 950 pending cases and deals with disputes in environmental issues from Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Lakshwadeep and Telangana. “Two benches will function in the new premises. The second bench will be started soon in the existing building. Nearly 95 per cent of the work has been completed,” said a NGT official.
Restored after fire
Meanwhile, the heritage structure that was ravaged in a fire in January 2012, is being meticulously restored as part of a Rs.14.5-crore project. It used to house offices of Directorate of Social Welfare, Commercial Taxes, and Directorate of Industries and Commerce.
Scaffolding envelopes the building where skilled labour are at work. “It took us about two-three months to remove debris and create a safe working environment. We removed about 240 truck-loads of debris from the premises,” sources said.
As there was no proper plan of the structure, video documentation and drawings were done before the work was started.
Labourers are involved in removing the damaged lime mortar plastering and checking for damages in brick work before reconstructing them. Charred wood and twisted iron girders are being replaced with materials sourced from different places.
“We are sourcing wood from Senkottai and lime from Pollachi. We had to remove concrete from the roofing after intensive non-destructive testing,” an official added.
The department will soon start work on the roof and the octagon-shaped dome. Kalas Mahal an Indo-Saracenic structure, which was built in 1768, is classified as a grade I heritage building in the Justice E. Padmanabhan committee report.
