The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has identified 25 government-owned buildings for restoration. Some of the buildings listed, include the Mairie building (Town Hall), V.O.C. Government Higher Secondary School, the old Court building and the Customs building on Beach Road.
As per the proposal submitted by INTACH to the government in January 2010, the total estimated cost for the restoration of all these buildings was around Rs. 42 crore.
Work would start as and when the government decided to release funds for restoration, said co-convener of INTACH, Ashok Panda. Detailed proposals have not been made for most of these buildings. They would be chalked out when the government gives the go-ahead, he said.
Among all the buildings, the Mairie building, where the Pondicherry Municipality functions, will be given top priority, as the structure is in need of urgent attention. INTACH has already completed a study of the building, with the help of an expert from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras. The estimated cost of restoration is approximately Rs. 1.1 crore, as per the proposal submitted.
Other buildings that are high on the priority list for restoration include the Art and Culture Department office on Beach Road, the old Pondicherry Museum building on Romain Rolland Street, and the old Local Administration Department building. The old museum building would first be restored, before a specialist is called on for setting up of the museum, Mr. Panda said.
