The Puducherry government is keen on preserving and maintaining heritage buildings in the Union Territory as they are among important attractions for tourists, Chief Minister N Rangasamy said today.
Inaugurating the renovated building housing 'Subramania Bharathiar Museum cum Research centre' here, he said the government had acquired the premises where the national poet resided during his political sojourn for nearly 11 years during the 1920s.
A research centre-cum-museum relating to the poet has also been housed in the building.
The Chief Minister paid rich compliments to the 'prophetic capability' of Bharathi and said that during his stay in this former French colony, the poet had penned several soul stirring songs kindling patriotic zeal.
Rangasamy said the building, renovated at a cost of Rs 1 crore, using traditional material, had been brought under the category of Grade I heritage structures.
He assured those coming forward to preserve and maintain heritage buildings without disturbing their traditional features, that they would be extended an incentive of Rs 1 lakh while renovating the structures.
The building was acquired in 1973 by the government as per directives of the then Lt Governor Chhedi Lal.
The research centre-cum-museum containing literary pieces of the poet has been found to be useful for Tamil scholars and research students preparing theses on the poet.
