The Mysore City Corporation (MCC) will constitute a committee of heritage and conservation experts to oversee the restoration of Lansdowne Building.
This will include professional conservation architects with experience in restoration of heritage buildings apart from those well-versed with different architectural styles.
MCC Commissioner C.G. Betsurmath, who also holds the additional charge as Commissioner, Department of Archaeology, Museums and Heritage, told The Hindu that the recommendations of the expert committee, which submitted a report on the structure’s conservation, will be followed.
‘Retain woodwork’
The Indian Heritage City Network had suggested retaining the original material like wood etc. as much as would feasible.
“Lansdowne Building is a heritage structure more than 120 years old and hence, its intrinsic value cannot be compromised while undertaking repairs,” Mr. Betsurmath said.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah laid the foundation stone for the restoration of the building earlier this month.
Built in 1892
The heritage structure was constructed in 1892 to commemorate the visit of British Viceroy Henry Charles Keith Petty-Fitzmaurice, 5th Marquess of Lansdowne, and his wife to the city. The heritage structure was a shopping arcade but due to lack of maintenance, a portion of it collapsed in August 2012, killing four.
The government sanctioned Rs. 6 crore for the project, of which Rs. 3 crore will be utilised for repair and reconstruction, while the remaining amount will be used to relay the drainage, improve surroundings, draw new lines for power supply, etc. There are fears that heritage conservation norms could be compromised as the elected representatives had spoken of plans to demolish and reconstruct a portion of the structure while retaining the original façade of the building.
