The Hindu 21.12.2010
Marie building renovation hit by delays
Sruthisagar Yamunan
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It is an important heritage structure |
— Photo: T.Singaravelou
Work at the Marie building in Puducherry going on at a snail’s pace.
PUDUCHERRY: Neglect on the part of the administration and delay in
initiating renovation works has resulted in extensive damage to the
Hotel De Ville on the Beach road, which now houses the Puducherry
Municipality.
Popularly known as the Marie, the building is over 100 years old and
is considered one of the most important heritage structures in the town.
Last May, as a precaution, engineers belonging to Indian National Trust
for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), which supervises several
renovation works in the town, decided to build wooden propping and
support the ceiling which had developed wide cracks.
A detailed inspection of the building was done by INTACH two years
ago in association with an expert from Indian Institute of
Technology-Madras and recommendations for its complete renovation were
placed before the Municipality.
According to INTACH sources, the current state of the building was
largely due to the neglect of their suggestions made as early as in
2004-05 when the building first started showing signs of damage. There
was an immediate need to strengthen its foundation which had become weak
owing to seepage of water. “If they had done the renovation then, much
of the damage to the building could have been averted. Further, the cost
that would be incurred in the complete renovation could have been
saved.” Though works for strengthening the foundation was taken up and
completed at a cost of Rs 15 lakh, very little has been done to begin
the renovation. According to Chairperson of Puducherry Municipality B.
Sridevi, there have been procedural delays in floating the tenders for
the works though an amount of Rs 1.5 crore was sanctioned recently. The
municipality is also unable to find a suitable alternate site for
relocation.
“We thought of moving to the Kuber Kalyana Mandapam but the
facilities there are inadequate. We are now looking at other places
including our offices at Mudaliarpet as possible alternatives,” she
said.
The municipality is now waiting for the PWD’s sanction, which is
mandatory for all projects which cost more than Rs 30 lakh. Ms. Sridevi
said that once the approval is received, the council has to meet and
pass a resolution for approving the entire process.