Will hospital design ­ensure all this?

The Khalsa/Kalas Mahal fire was the perfect opportunity for the authorities to move affected government offices as well as other offices in Chepauk Palace into the New Secretariat, thus converting it into an office block. Further construction could help move all Government offices into this campus – and save the Government a heap of rent. But Government is hell-bent on making the building a hospital. Now it finds itself in courts over this. But whatever the eventual court decision, we publish below an advisory that is also a warning from a veteran doctor with much experience in hospital development.

– The Editor

• Hospital design today is driven by technology, which is progressing at an astounding pace and any design should lend itself to accommodate future developments.

• The hospital will have to incorporate the latest technologies, including green technologies, to reduce its carbon footprint.

• It will have to provide for patient safety and comfort, with ready access to all the medical services available.

• In a multispeciality hospital there should be made available state-of-the-art ICUs for various specialities, including operating theatres and ancillary facilities to service the above, and all of these have to blend in a way that they are complementary to each other without unnecessary duplication.

• The infrastructural, logistical support required to support such a project would be an architect’s nightmare.

• To convert a building whose primary design was to cater to an entirely different function is a very impractical approach to designing a hospital.

• To design a modern hospital to current specifications which could be upgraded for future needs is a challenge to any designer.

• It would be much cheaper, and the final product better, if the old building is demolished and a purpose-built hospital is set up.

• From the larger perspective, the modernisation and expansion of the present General Hospital, and allocating more space adjoining it, would be a much better option.

• The site of the New Secretariat is not as easily accessible as the present General
Hospital, particularly for the poorer sections of the public.

• While the conversion of the New Secretariat building may appear a political masterstroke, I have no doubt the decision will dearly cost the proponents.

Let’s ‘rebuild’ it

It is unfortunate that the Kalas Mahal in the Chepauk Palace met with fire accident. The silver lining, however, is that the Chief Minister has directed that the possibility of restoring the structure be examined as against the initial recommendation to pull it down.

I have a few suggestions. It was said that ‘restoration’ may not be possible as many of the wooden members supporting the structure had rotted/burnt away. But if restoration is not possible, why not ‘rebuild’ it? After all, the foundation should be very strong. The carved granite arches and jalis should be safe and intact. So also the ancient bricks. If such a structure could be put up more than a hundred years ago, we should be able to replicate them now with modern technology. Moreover, many of the intricate building materials could be salvaged. No doubt, the process would be expensive and time-consuming, but could be taken up as a ‘labour of love’ for the sake of heritage. And it has been done elsewhere in the world. Abu Simbel in Egypt was relocated and rebuilt stone by stone, when the Aswan High Dam was constructed.

Another immediate move should be to relocate all the offices functioning in the Chepauk Palace complex elsewhere and restore it as a heritage site. I think all these offices can be shifted to the new Secretariat building.

Additional medical facilities for Chennai are also a must. We do have the Government Hospitals located in prime localities (General Hospital, Royapettah Hospital, Stanley, Egmore, Triplicane Ghosha Hospital and many more). These can probably be expanded and modernised to high standards, instead of converting the new Secretariat and Anna Library into hospitals.

D. Srinivasan
11/6, SBI Colony
Jeevarathnam Nagar
Adyar, Chennai 600 020

Preventing the mess

I thought I should share this with the readers. My mother was quite annoyed with garbage all over the street. Instead of complaining about it, she decided to do something about it. She said that at least we will not contribute to this garbage menace. Therefore:

1. We collect all vegetable kitchen-waste, pooja flowers and leftover food, if any, and put them in the pit dug in a corner of the ground (we live in a flat but there is a small open space where we could dig a pit).

2. All the used paper and paper packing material are kept in a plastic bag and given to the old paper collection shop once a week. Whatever money he gives is collected and at the end of the year notebooks are bought for our maid’s children.

3. All plastic covers and bottles and glass bottles are disposed of at the old things buying shop once a week.

4. The water from the kitchen sink is collected and poured into the rain harvesting area and so the water gets back into the ground.

5. Of couse, we all carry cloth bags with us. We do not use plastic carry bags; so our house is almost garbage-free.

My mother is happy that we don’t contribute to the mess on the streets.

Mrs. P.V. Rao
3, 22nd Cross Road
Chennai 600 090

Tribute to Swamigal

In MM January 1st issue you have paid Sreelasree Nachiappan a much-deserved tribute to which we would like to add our words of remembrance of his generosity.

As compilers of a book of alumni reminiscences of the Besant Theosophical School, Adyar, as it existed before Independence, titled South of the Adyar River, we approached the Swamigal, also an old student, to underwrite its printing and publishing expenses.

He examined the proofs and without a moment’s hesitation granted our request for financial and technical help and the book was completed and released at Hotel Savera in his presence, attended by a large number of alumni. Without his assistance our labour of love, along with that of other alumni, would not have seen the light of day for which we shall forever be morally in his debt.

We hope it will encourage other alumni to record their reminscences, all of which may add to the social and academic history of our country.

K.R.N. Menon and K.V.S. Krishna
Chennai 600 006