Police structure near Mysuru palace irks heritage experts

A structure put up by the city police near the North Gate of the famed Mysuru palace has irked heritage experts.

Expressing his ire over the structure put up by the police department that also bears an advertisement, retired professor of Ancient History and Archaeology, University of Mysore, N.S. Rangaraju pointed out that no structure can come up within 100 m of a heritage structure without approval from the Heritage Committee.

The police structure, described as a ‘Police Information Centre’, has been erected on a concrete platform and is also close to the Kote Anjaneya Swamy Temple at the Balarama Gate of Mysuru palace.

“First of all, no structure can come up near a heritage building. If it is inevitable, permission from the Heritage Committee, which is headed by the Deputy Commissioner and comprises of heritage experts, is mandatory,” Mr. Rangaraju said.

Even when the construction of a structure near a heritage building is cleared by the Heritage Committee, the structure should follow the suggested architectural design and synchronise with the facade of the heritage building, Mr. Rangaraju said. Also, the material to be used for the construction of the structure should also be specified by heritage experts, he added.

In the context, Mr. Rangaraju cited the public toilet constructed near Town Hall by the Namma Mysuru Foundation in collaboration with Mysuru City Corporation. The structure of the public toilet has strictly followed the architectural design of Town Hall, he said.