Restoring city’s heritage buildings

Restoring city’s heritage buildings
With INTACH getting the required impetus from the BMP, the city’s heritage buildings will regain their beauty, writes Leena Mudbidri
The Times of India

The city's ancient buildings and monuments which are testimony to a glorious bygone era will be restored to their historical magnificence with the joint initiative of the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) and INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage). The restoration work will be included as part of the ambitious Suvarna Bangalore project. After the successful clean-up of the Sampangiramanagar Temple Tank last year, the non-government body INTACH has many other restoration and cleansing operations in the pipeline.
The restoration of the Kempegowda Towers is the latest addition to INTACH's agenda according to H R Pratibha, Convenor, Bangalore Chapter of INTACH. "We have already made the proposal and drawn up the plan to go ahead with restoration works on these towers. The BMP on its part has also called for tenders for the works and located the funding agencies. The BMP officials are sensitive to the revival of these monuments and are taking keen interest in the operations from the initial phases," says Pratibha.
INTACH, a wholly autonomous non-governmental organisation was established in 1984 for the conservation of our natural and manmade environment. With the active participation of its members, it aims to create awareness among the public for the preservation of our heritage, by acting as a pressure group whenever any part of it is threatened by damage or destruction. Except for the initial financial corpus provided by the Government of India, INTACH does not receive any regular government aid. The various activities of INTACH are handled by The Material Heritage Division, The Architectural Heritage Division and The Natural Heritage Division.
"There are several ancient buildings in the city that have heritage value," says Pratibha. "But, since these structures are owned or run by various civic and private bodies, there are several loopholes in getting the work sanctioned. However, the BMP is taking the initiative on the works," she adds.
Propelled by BMP's impetus INTACH has taken up restoration work on Town Hall. The exteriors have been improved on and work on the sound and lighting inside the hall is being undertaken. Work on Mayo Hall has been taken up on a war-footing and the first floor has been completed. "A few logistical loose ends will have to be tied up for work to resume on the ground floor. Plans are on to convert it into a museum," informs Pratibha.
Work on the Krishnarao Park is pending and will be soon completed. There are several ancient structures inside the Cubbon Park and Lalbagh in the city which have been identified for restoration. "However, since the Cubbon Park comes under the Public Works Department and the Lalbagh under the Horticulture Department, the BMP should make a move to get the work going," she suggests. It is interesting to note that the stone structures housing the BMP too had been identified and cleaned up by INTACH recently.
Apart from these government buildings, there are several private enterprises which have structures of immense heritage value within their precincts. "The State Bank of India's palatial buildings on St Marks' Road housing the company guesthouse was recently done up by INTACH upon the bank's request," informs Pratibha. "The Life Insurance Corporation too proposed restoration works on its stone buildings," she adds.