The Hindu 08.09.2014
Civic engineers to be trained on heritage conservation
Identification and documentation of heritage buildings in the city has
been delayed due to the lack of trained personnel. (Above) A heritage
structure at Egmore museum —Photo: R. Ragu
The civic body will offer training to sensitise its engineers about heritage in the city.
Special sessions on planning better civic infrastructure for the city have already commenced.
“When
we train our engineers, we will also sensitise them on conservation of
heritage and the city’s unique architecture,” said an official of the
Chennai Corporation.
Learning on technical aspects
pertaining to architecture and conservation is expected to change the
way engineers react to a challenge around heritage structures in the
city.
A heritage conservation cell of the Corporation
is yet to become operational, three years after the Chennai
Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) mooted the idea. The training
sessions are likely to facilitate operation of a heritage conservation
cell.
Officials also pointed to the need for trained
engineers of the Corporation to work on identification of heritage
buildings on each street.
“Junior engineers of each
ward know more about their localities. They will be able to contribute
more to identification of heritage buildings yet to be explored,” said
an official.
CMDA has not been able to identify or
complete documentation of all heritage buildings in the city. The work
has been delayed owing to lack of trained personnel.