Renovation of Durbar Hall lands in a controversy

KOCHI: Heritage buildings are often renovated under the guidelines of the Archeology Department but the renovation of the 150-year -old Durbar Hall in Kochi has raised eyebrows as it was undertaken by a private architect without even consulting the department. The Archeology Department sources said that the Kochi-Muzirius Biennale Foundation Trust, that was entrusted with the renovation works, should have consulted the department even though the building had not been declared a heritage site.  “All buildings that are more than 100 years old are considered heritage monuments. The Durbar Hall has a tradition closely linked to the history Kochi. It was better if the foundation had consulted the department before they undertook the renovation work, said a department official. Certain conservative principles had to be maintained while going for renovation of such age old buildings, they said and expressed doubts if those principles were maintained in the Durbar Hall renovation. “All the heritage materials have to be preserved while a renovation is being done of the age old buildings,” they said. Eminent archaeologist and former director of Archaeological Survey of India, R Nagaswamy, said, “it has to be seen if the renovation has been made without disturbing the basic historical structure.”   Kochi-Muzirius Biennale Foundation Trust president Bose Krishnamachary and secretary Riyas Komu have said that the Archeological Department was not consulted while undergoing the renovation. The Durbar Hall was handed over for renovation by the Lalithakala Akademi, they said. When asked if the trust did not think of consulting the Archeology Department, Riyas Komu said “ the Archeological Department had  handed over the building to Lalithakala Akademi. So there was no need for any permission from the department.”  Kerala Lalithakala Akademi secretary Sreemoolanagaram Mohan said that the Kochi- Muzirius Biennale Foundation Trust had an agreement with the government and the Akademi was just informed about the agreement. He was also unaware if the Archeology Department was consulted. “There are only a few records with the Akademi. Everything has come from the government,” he said.    Former Culture Minister M A Baby declined to make any comments. It was during the Left government that the Durbar hall renovation was entrusted with the Kochi-Muzirius Biennale Foundation trust. Constructed about 150 years ago, the building was originally the Durbar Hall (Royal Courthouse) of the Maharaja of the erstwhile principality of Kochi. The Archeology Department handed over the whole of the Durbar Hall building to the Laithakala Akademi in 1998.