Mysore palace at risk?

Visitors to the Mysore Palace, the jewel among Mysore's heritage structures, may on one side be treated to a distorted history and on the other side have to witness the damage caused to the nearly century old marvellous structure if sufficient care and attention is not bestowed on the ongoing works relating to the light and sound programme, to be launched by Dasara this October.

While the construction of a gallery for seating visitors for witnessing the light and sound programme in front of the palace has already whipped up a controversy, one more issue raised its head today with Prof P V Nanjaraja Urs, a former professor of the Mysore University and award winning film producer, expressing concern over the damage being done to the magnificent Palace Durbar Hall.

"While the Mysore Wodeyar's history is full of controversies right from 1399, when it was founded by Yadu Raya, and ended in 1947 with the country attaining Independence, the palace with beautiful colonnades, its aesthetically painted domes and royal galleries are at risk of being irrepairable damage," he said at a press conference today.

"It is not known how the historical controversies will be tackled in the one-hour narration during the presentation of the programme. Even after several requests, the contents of the tape have not been disclosed even to the last scion of the Mysore royal family and former MP Srikanta Datta Narasimharaja Wodeyar."

"That apart, light and sound programme requires installation of a large number of light and sound equipment for effective presentation. The women's gallery in the Durbar Hall of the palace is already being damaged for the purpose and the beautiful columns are also likely to receive the same treatment," Urs expressed concern.

He recalled that a few years ago, when a film was being shot in the same Durbar Hall, its marble tiles were damaged and it has not been possible to replace them so far.

The damage now may cause similar loss, he said, demanding 'transparency' in what the project officers are doing.

Urs also demanded an experts committee to scrutinise the works and the content of the tape.