Neglect has given way to Restoration, but what of Maintenance?

-- by Sriram V.

The Hindu recently published a news item that the Public Works Department of the TN Government has finalised a plan to restore six heritage structures in the State at a cost of Rs 67 crores. This has been submitted for formal approval which will most likely be given once the code of conduct imposed by the Election Commission is lifted in June. The projects cover the Kalyan Mahal Chattiram in Thiruvaiyyaru, the Muktambal Chattiram in Orathanadu, the Sivaji Raja building at Thanjavur, a part of Chepauk Palace, the dome of the College of Engineering at Guindy and the Kodumudi Travellers’ Bungalow at Erode.

The PWD plans to execute these restoration activities through its Building Centre and Conservation Division. This is one of the recent additions to the department and considerable investment has gone into training engineers in heritage conservation and restoration. Some commendable projects have been taken up as well. This is very heartening especially as for decades the State Government’s unstated policy when it came to heritage was one of neglect. Beyond the most cursory maintenance, if that, nothing was done at most heritage structures that were outside the purview of the ASI or the HR &CE. All of this is changing in the last few years.

With the number of restored heritage buildings likely to go up in the next decade or so, this is the correct time for the State Government to also ponder over what is to be done with them once the conservation exercise is completed. The present tendency in officialdom is to designate them all as museums than which there can be no greater short-sighted policy. There are all over the State several museums, declared open with much fanfare and then forgotten. These get hardly any footfalls owing to poor publicity, and unimaginative displays. Adding to this tally is certainly not an answer unless there is a revolution of sorts in the Department of Arts and Culture which runs most of the museums.

The Government needs to think out of the box. All of these buildings need to be in continuous use if they are to be maintained well. Of course the CEG or the Travellers’ Bungalow or for that matter the Chepauk buildings will continue to be in use but here again, the question is one of how they will be maintained. A casual visit to any of these structures will reveal that it is maintenanceand worse, ad hoc additions that are the chief culprits. While handing over these buildings to their end users, the PWD has to insist on a strict maintenance code, and what is more, needs to inspect these structures periodically to make sure that the guidelines are being followed. It is presumed that the Sivaji Raja Building is part of Thanjavur Palace and is therefore in use as well.

The two chattirams pose a bigger challenge. The Kalyan Mahal was used as a music college and a hostel and a visit a few years ago left this writer wondering as to how anyone could live in such a ruin. The campus ironically was ideal for a college and young minds – by the river, vast open spaces and plenty of ventilation. But it was the maintenance that was pathetic to say the least. The Orathanadu Chattiram has had an even worse history when it comes to maintenance. Wilful neglect is possibly the best description. In both these instances, the Government would do well to see what has been done in places such as Rajasthan and Gujarat with similar structures. They have been very creatively repurposed as event and stay spaces and have become revenue generators so that they can pay for their maintenance.

It is to be hoped that the Government will not stop with restoration but also plan ahead for the buildings’ long-term well being.

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