Udhagamandalam: The Nilgiri Documentation Centre (NDC) has suggested that delay in shifting the public offices from the town centre in Ooty to outskirts could be used to the benefit of the hill town by announcing the area as 'Heritage Zone'.
By declaring the area as heritage zone, which includes St. Stephen's church area, Telegraph Hill, the Commissioner's Road, Mount Stewart Hill, the Church Hill Road and the Bank Road, NDC opined that the district administration will attract tourists to the hill town.
The NDC suggestion came following a news item in TOI on November 1 - 'Heritage court building in Ooty may be converted into a museum'. The news item indicated the possibilty of converting the present court complex into museum once the construction of a new court complex at Kakkathoppu is completed.
The court complex, once vacated, could be converted into a 'Heritage Town Hall' with a museum where heritage talks, shows, exhibitions and other events could be organized, according to NDC.
NDC director Dharmalingam Venugopal recounted the historical importance of the area. He said public offices including the present court complex were first built opposite to St.Stephen's church in 1829 after Ooty was declared a military cantonment in 1827. The post office was opened in 1826 and telegraph office was set up in 1855, following which the area was called the Telegraph Hill.
When the district was placed under a commissioner in 1868 the public offices were retained. In 1882 when the commissioner was renamed as collector, the office became the Collectrate of the Nilgiris. The collector's office was enlarged in 1902 with an addition of a second storey.
Talking about archaeological signficance of buildings, Venugopal said the buildings of the Nilgiri Library and parts of Lawrence School were designed by famed architect Robert Chisholm based on Oriental style. Besides the renovation of post office, court complex and the Breeks school were modelled on the Chisholm's style.
Pointing out that most of these buildings retain their original architecture, Venugopal said, "The buildings in the area should be declared 'Heritage Buildings' and they should be retained as such or with changes without losing the original style. New buildings within a radius of 100 feet of this zone should be regulated."
By declaring the area as heritage zone, which includes St. Stephen's church area, Telegraph Hill, the Commissioner's Road, Mount Stewart Hill, the Church Hill Road and the Bank Road, NDC opined that the district administration will attract tourists to the hill town.
The NDC suggestion came following a news item in TOI on November 1 - 'Heritage court building in Ooty may be converted into a museum'. The news item indicated the possibilty of converting the present court complex into museum once the construction of a new court complex at Kakkathoppu is completed.
The court complex, once vacated, could be converted into a 'Heritage Town Hall' with a museum where heritage talks, shows, exhibitions and other events could be organized, according to NDC.
NDC director Dharmalingam Venugopal recounted the historical importance of the area. He said public offices including the present court complex were first built opposite to St.Stephen's church in 1829 after Ooty was declared a military cantonment in 1827. The post office was opened in 1826 and telegraph office was set up in 1855, following which the area was called the Telegraph Hill.
When the district was placed under a commissioner in 1868 the public offices were retained. In 1882 when the commissioner was renamed as collector, the office became the Collectrate of the Nilgiris. The collector's office was enlarged in 1902 with an addition of a second storey.
Talking about archaeological signficance of buildings, Venugopal said the buildings of the Nilgiri Library and parts of Lawrence School were designed by famed architect Robert Chisholm based on Oriental style. Besides the renovation of post office, court complex and the Breeks school were modelled on the Chisholm's style.
Pointing out that most of these buildings retain their original architecture, Venugopal said, "The buildings in the area should be declared 'Heritage Buildings' and they should be retained as such or with changes without losing the original style. New buildings within a radius of 100 feet of this zone should be regulated."
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