The fall of the iconic Mairie building on November 29 has triggered the rise of a citizens group, under the name ‘People for Pondicherry’s Heritage,’ which will submit a petition to the government seeking urgent action to preserve the remaining heritage buildings here.
Bolstered by the huge support the online petition, “Save Pondicherry’s Heritage buildings IN TIME” received, the group has planned to organise a public memorial event at 5 p.m. on Sunday in front of The Mairie on Goubert Avenue. The idea, the organisers say, is to draw attention to the “urgent need that this disaster should not happen again” and to “pay tribute to the building which was not only a significant part of Puducherry’s physical identity but also played an unforgettable part in the memories of its residents as a place where many got married.”
The group consists of a diverse set of residents comprising businesspersons, architects, artists and others. “Puducherry is seen as an example by other cities in terms of heritage preservation and we must uphold this,” said Sunaina Mandeen, one of the members of the group, at a press meet on Thursday.
She blamed the government of inaction after the Archaeological Survey of India report in 2012 had stressed on the need for the immediate restoration of five heritage buildings, particularly the Mairie.
According to the members, heritage preservation is vital to bringing business to Puducherry, including tourism, and the buildings form a vital part of the town’s identity. They have also asked for the government to implement laws for the support of heritage conservation.
The group demanded that support scaffolding be provided on priority to the old lighthouse, V.O.C School, Pensionnat De Jeunes Filles (Government Girls French High School), and Calve College. It also wanted a replica of the Mairie be built at the current site.
The group dismissed the government reports that the Pensionnat De Jeunes Filles is beyond repair and wanted an independent team to assess the structure. “The Puducherry government has to show the will that these buildings can be saved. It has to act decisively,” said Kakoli Banerjee of the group.
On funding for the restoration projects , Ms. Mandeen said that trusts, organisations, departments that benefit from the heritage buildings such as the Tourism Department could be roped in.
Following the event on Sunday, the petition would be sent to the Chief Minister, the Lieutenant Governor, the Union government and Union Ministries such as Education and Culture, said Ms. Banerjee.
In the aftermath of the Mairie’s collapse, social media has been loaded with old photographs of the building, tributes and laments on the neglect that caused its collapse. By Thursday evening, the online petition on www.change.org had garnered the signatures of 1,450 people within six days of its launch.
