Bangalore: Vidhana Soudha might continue to face wall demolitions in the name of renovation. Last June, it was Forest minister Ramanath Rai who demolished a partition wall in his chamber at Vidhana Soudha. On Sunday, it was the turn of Social Welfare minister H. Anjaneya to get a partition wall in his newly-occupied chamber demolished.
While, the renovation spree in Vidhana Soudha after every new government comes to power is nothing new, no effort has been made by the Legislature to bring in a law that can stop such mindless ‘renovations’ that affect the structure and aesthetics of the historical and magnificent LeÂgislative building. Even a private Bill tabled by JD(S) leader and MLC M.C. Nanaiah two years back, seeking to prevent structural modifications to prominent government buildings for reasons like Vaastu has not come up for discussion.
On Sunday, Anjaneya defended his decision stating that he wanted ‘a more spacious room to accommodate the stream of visitors’ at his chamber. He also claimed that the demolition was not due to Vaasthu issues or superstition. “It does not look good when people stand all along the corridor waiting to meet me,” said the minister.
According to sources, the ‘renovation’ is going to cost the exchequer Rs 18 lakh including new furniture, interiors and painting. It may be recalled that the minister had an altercation with senior officers of Department of Personnel and AdÂministrative Reforms (DPAR) last Friday alleging that the officers had ‘ignored’ his order to carry out the demolition.
