A clear consensus eluded the meeting of a three-member team from World Bank with members of the State-Level Heritage Conservation Advisory Committee held on Monday regarding the method of reconstruction and intended use of the heritage Mairie building on the Beach Promenade. The team from World Bank, led by Deepak Singh, Senior Disaster Risk Management Specialist, also met Chief Minister N. Rangasamy.
The issue of reconstructing the Mairie has raised a debate among stakeholders on whether to reconstruct the building as a Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC) structure as per the Public Works Department proposal or using traditional materials (brick and lime-mortar) as per the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) Puducherry proposal.
The World Bank had agreed to provide financial assistance to the Puducherry government for the restoration of the Mairie building. Though the building collapsed in November last just as restoration work had begun, the World Bank agreed to provide financial assistance for the reconstruction project.
Members representing the PWD and civil engineers’ association said an RCC structure would lend strength and longevity. They also said time is a constraint and getting a large number of workers with knowledge of traditional materials would be difficult for such a massive structure. P. Swaminathan, Chief Engineer, PWD, said that the PWD had come in to the picture after the collapse of the Mairie and was confident of constructing a long-lasting building using RCC.
CPI Puducherry unit secretary R. Viswanathan who also attended the meeting said the people of Puducherry had a strong attachment to the Mairie building and wished that it be built in the same manner that it was.
INTACH contended that limestone and all required traditional materials are available, and it was possible to reconstruct the Mairie as per the original plan. The organisation also said masonry work would ensure the building would be long lasting and stay true to its heritage character. INTACH members also warned of ill-effects of piling activity on surrounding buildings like the Police Headquarters.
World Bank said at the meeting that it is up to the Puducherry government and people to decide the road ahead on its reconstruction.
This also includes the use of the building once it is completed. Another issue to be sorted is the management and maintenance of the building in the future, and which agency will be in charge. At the meeting, Mr. Singh said that there is scope for modification in the final proposal incorporating the best from both methods of construction. He said there was need for further deliberation and the proposal should be open to public scrutiny.
PWD and civil engineers advocate RCC for longevity; INTACH says limestone and all traditional materials are available and it’s possible to reconstruct the Mairie as per the original plan
