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Training for labourers in heritage care
Around 472 heritage buildings (private and public) were identified as old heritage structures in the city, of which the following have been restored
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migrator
migrator
Chennai
The Public Works Department’s building centre and conservation division, along with Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) is conducting training sessions for semi-skilled labourers in a bid to restore heritage monuments across the State. The move follows an acute shortage of manpower to handle heritage conservation projects.
“The main challenge in these heritage conservation projects is shortage of skilled labourers. Only a handful of labourers are present to meet our demands,” a PWD official said. “Modern engineers are not skilled to repair the arches predominantly seen in the Indo-Saracenic style of Chepauk Palace, as it was erected without the aid of steel rods. But, we were taught to raise an arch with rods for support.”
Now, the workers have been brought in from other districts, including Thanjavur. “These workers are engaged in this occupation for generations. The art has been passed on and the knowledge preserved among the clans,” the official said.
The department is planning to introduce it in the curriculum orientation for traditional technologies. The division is optimistic about the idea as several architecture students keep visiting to observe the renovation works.
“Besides, the engineers working on the projects attended a series of workshops organised by the INTACH before the commencement of the conservation projects. We rely heavily on Google and taught ourselves various traditional techniques,” the official added. The projects have been moving at a slow pace as they are time and money driven. The materials are tested for quality at the PWD’s laboratory in Taramani.
The other building materials such as timber and flat terrace bricks are purchased from Tirukattupalli in Thanjavur, lime mortar from Pollachi and Madras terrace bricks from Kerala. A top PWD official said, “The cost and time involved in renovation of heritage buildings has doubled. Some government buildings, including Bharat Insurance located on Mount Road, filed a petition in the court citing their dilapidated condition. The buildings include government offices, talukas, and Collector offices across the State,” he said.
Refurbishment drive
Around 472 heritage buildings (private and public) were identified as old heritage structures in the city, of which the following have been restored
- Restoration works completed at Kalas Mahal, National Green Tribunal and the office of the Arumughasamy Commission set up to inquire into the death of former CM J Jayalalithaa
- Works at Chepauk Palace carried out at a cost of Rs 1.4 crore.
Yet to be renovated
- Three buildings inside Queen Mary’s college premises
- Humayun Mahal to be renovated at Rs 35 crore
- Kuthirai Vandi Court at Rs 6 crore
- Governor’s palace (Coimbatore) at Rs 5 crore
- Other buildings included under the project are at Nagercoil and Pudukkottai
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