Delay in restoration of Maharanis College building affects students

NT Correspondent

Mysuru: The repair and restoration of the Maharani’s Science College for Women building after a portion of the building collapsed 16 months ago, has still not happened.

This has affected thousands of students who are studying in the college. They are forced to attend classes in congested rooms.

Unlike Lansdowne Building, which collapsed killing four people eleven years back, Maharani’s College is still used by students. But the apathy of the government is posing a danger to the student community.

A portion of the centuryold college on Jhansi Lakshmi Bai Road collapsed on August 21, 2022 following incessant rainfall. Three laboratories – one each of the chemistry, biotechnology, and botany departments– were reduced to rubble.

Though there was no loss of life or injury, the incident had shaken students and staff in the campus last year.

As many as 3,850 students- both undergraduate BSC science and post graduate MSc students, study in this college apart from 200 teaching staff and 50 nonteaching staff.

As the damaged portion was not repaired by the government even after 15 months, students are attending the classes in other rooms and laboratories.

Speaking to News Trail, Principal of the college Abdul Rehaman said that as it is a heritage building, repair and conservation is a bit delayed due to delay in administrative approval.

The principal said that he has drawn the attention of state higher education minister M C Sudhakar and other elected representatives to the need to urgently repair the building.

Once the government sanctions funds, renovation work will start as per heritage committee guidelines, he said. Chamaraja MLA M Harishgowda, who is chairman of the College Development Council told News Trail that CM Siddaramaiah and higher education minister Sudhakar had inspected the college building during their recent visit to the city.

"CM assured to release Rs 51 crore for repair the college building, The CM also announced release of another Rs 19 crore for repair and renovation of the arts college and Rs 99 crore for construction of a new hostel building for Maharanis College science students", he said.

Historian and District Heritage Committee member N S Rangaraju said that he and other committee members had visited the college on various occasions after this incident and had recommended to the state government to take up urgent renovation work on the structure.

The committee also gave a renovation plan to the authorities.