Unique blend of Franco-Tamil architecture

S. Prasad focuses on the need for a special legislation to protect heritage structures in the city.

view of the Mairie Building (Town Hall), which collapsed under the impact of incessant rains, in Puducherry. Photo: S.S. Kumar

> The collapse of the Mairie (Town Hall) building on the Beach promenade last month has come up as a wake up call for policy-makers to ponder over the necessity of having a separate legislation for protection of heritage buildings in the city.

The 144-year-old Mairie Building, the seat of municipal administration in the French era and one of the prominent landmarks of Puducherry, had collapsed in heavy rains on November 29.

The building, which housed the Mayor’s office, functioned for over a century as the hub of municipal administration. It came to be used for cultural shows and marriage receptions, and for four years from 1964, housed the Legislative Assembly of Puducherry - it was also inside The Mairie that the first bid at ushering in democracy for Puducherry was made during 1870-1900 long before the first general elections were held in British India.

After the collapse of this important emblem from the French era, the focus is now on a number of other endangered heritage buildings in Puducherry.

According to an INTACH official, “Cities like Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Hyderabad have comprehensive legislation for protection of heritage buildings. Apart from this several cities also have a Heritage Conservation Committee with members from the government, civil society and non-governmental organisations. Heritage structures are notified by the committee and the authorities have to get the committee's permission before demolishing any building”.

“While buildings have been listed as heritage in terms of archaeological and historical importance there is no law to prevent people or the government from pulling it down. Listing of heritage buildings does not have any value if there is no law to protect such structures. The absence of heritage conservation is now badly felt,” said a historian.

Experts say that by virtue of being a former French outpost, Puducherry has a unique Franco-Tamil architectural heritage. The two architectural styles have influenced each other resulting in a harmonious blend of European and Tamil architectural patterns in several buildings in Puducherry. It is important in preserving the unique heritage structures which are of immense value.

In Puducherry the State Level Heritage Advisory Committee was reconstituted recently. However, the committee has not had any meeting. It is only an advisory committee and does not have any legal or statutory powers.

It is high time the Puducherry government brought in a Heritage Law envisaging the conservation of the rich heritage and cultural properties in the city for posterity. The government could amend the Puducherry Town and Country Planning law of 1969 or pass fresh legislation, says Ashok Panda, co-convenor, INTACH.

The proposed legislation could advise the government on classification of heritage buildings and any alteration or modification of a notified building cannot be taken up without approval. It may also advise the local authorities on the policy development and maintenance of a heritage building, he said.