Expert committee to grade heritage structures; define scope for change

Mysuru: Amid rising chorus for a dedicated plan, coupled with budgetary allocation exclusively for the preservation of the multitude of heritage structures in Mysuru city, the Karnataka department of archaeology, museums, and heritage, has embarked on an initiative to grade all historic buildings. The structures, and their adjoining premises will be graded on three levels – one, two and three. A seven-member team headed by the deputy director of the heritage department, Manjula CN, will conduct the exercise. The team will additionally comprise experts on heritage, structural engineers, and officials from the Mysuru City Corporation’s (MCC) town-planning section.
The grading exercise, once completed, will assist the government, and other owners of the heritage structures, in making an informed decision on preservation of these historic buildings. Experts have pointed to the lacuna of a dedicated policy resulting in a lot of confusion on conservation of heritage structures.
Structures that are of great historic importance, are exemplars of distinctive architectural styles – use of materials, technology, and appearance – and associated with a specific epoch or a personality. They will be designated prime landmarks, and will be preserved in their original sites. Consequently, grade two heritage structures are those that are of less historic importance, and grade three buildings will, logically, fall in the lower rung with respect to both historic and architectural significance. Most of the structures classified in the two categories are likely to be local landmarks that serve to contribute to the identity and image of Mysuru.
Officials in the heritage department said that, while grade one structures warranted careful preservation, grade two buildings needed ‘intelligent’ conservation. “When it concerns the grade three buildings, the unique features and attributes of the structures need to be preserved,” an official said.
The department is also prescribing rules delineating the scope for changes that could be made to the historic structures, in addition to the procedures that are to be followed. One such rule enjoins on the authorities to make minimal, and only essential, changes to those classified as grade one structures. Such architectural modification will be allowed only to prolong the life of the structures. In the case of the grade two buildings, while there will be no objections to internal alterations, changes to the external appearance of the structure will be allowed after a thorough inspection.
Commissioner of the department of archaeology, museums and heritage, Devaraju A said that, once completed, the report compiling the recommendations of the grading exercise would be vouchsafed to the Mysuru District Heritage Committee. “The objective of this exercise is to set the boundaries within which changes can be made to the historic structures, while at the same time, initiating work on conservation and development,” Devaraju said.
Heritage committee member, NS Rangaraju said that work on the survey exercise was already under way. “Experts are visiting these heritage sites, and documenting each of them, and grading them using the parameters prescribed. This exercise will enable us to initiate work on conservation in a systematic manner,” he said.