Fern house renovation at Cubbon Park halted

BENGALURU: Conservation architects from Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (Intach) have taken objection to the material being used to renovate the two dilapidated fern houses in Cubbon Park. The horticulture department, custodian of the fern houses, has stopped and called for a meeting on July 1.

The fern houses, one near the State Central Library and the other behind Victoria Statue, were built in the 19th century.

“The structure was built using brick and lime. Now, the horticulture department is using cement to renovate it, ignoring Intach’s proposal,” said Pankaj Modi, Intach member and conservation architect.

The two fern houses were once home to thousands of shade plants and creepers.

Mahantesh Murgod, deputy director, Cubbon Park, horticulture department, said renovation of the fern house near Victoria Statue is almost over and work on the other has been stopped. “I am not too sure if they can be called heritage structures as they haven’t been documented so anywhere. But we are treating them as heritage structures and working on their renovation. Intach gave us a proposal, but hasn’t renewed its contract with the government. Hence, the work was entrusted to another government agency. We have not demolished any structure. We will shortly have a meeting with Intach members and other experts and discuss what needs to be done,” he said.

Intach members, however, said it is a Union government-sponsored body. “The Karnataka Gazette has said the rules of Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement Act 1999, do not apply for procurement of Intach services for landscaping, protective fencing, preservation, restoration and conservation of designated temples, monuments and historic places in the state,” said Meera Iyer, Intach convener.