Heritage activists rue razing of city's Krumbiegel Hall

BENGALURU: A silent protest was conducted by the Bengaluru division of Indian National Trust for Art and Culture Heritage (INTACH), against the demolition of the 100-year-old Krumbiegel Hall.

The gathering also highlighted the deplorable condition of the Lalbagh aquarium to ensure that it also does not meet a similar fate.

INTACH Co-convener Meera Iyer said, “The point of the protest was to demand, why the officials let the building collapse? And if it did, they could have restored the facade. Why raze it down entirely, without consulting experts? INTACH signed an MoU with Horticulture department in 2011 and were in talks with them to restore Krumbiegel Hall, aquarium and Marigowda Library.” An extract from a letter by INTACH addressed to Horticulture Department Commissioner, Joint Director of Lalbagh, Additional Chief Secretaries (dated November 23) stated, “Even the remaining portions of the structure could have been used to rebuild the Hall. Unfortunately, the department chose to raze it down using a JCB, without heeding public opinion, especially that of Ms Alyia Phelps-Gradiner Krumbiegel, the great-granddaughter of Gustav Hermann Krumbiegel." "The remaining portions of the building, including the stone pillars and the pediment with the Mysore kingdom’s gandabherunda symbol, could have been retained for a reconstructed building there," the letter stated. 

History lovers and heritage experts blame the negligence of the Horticulture Department, for the lack of maintenance of the city's patrimony.

Interestingly, in the wake of public criticism. the horticultural department, which had initially said that Krumbiegel Hall could not be restored, are now willing to rebuild it from the demolished rubble. 

Horticulture Commissioner P.C. Ray told DC that the Archaeology department has been asked to look into the rebuilding of Krumbiegel Hall, without violating conservation norms.