BENGALURU: The Government Tamil School in Ashoknagar that was facing the threat of closure will soon get a renovated look.
The education department has given permission to Intach (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage) to renovate the school, by retaining two rooms as classrooms and the rest as a library open to the public.
The 93-year-old school has only nine children enrolled in class 1-5. TOI had earlier reported that even though Intach had made a proposal to renovate the heritage structure, the department was not keen on it and had plans to close down the school. The prime location of the school had led to speculation on the intentions of the government.
“We have suggested to Intach that two classrooms can be retained for the school and the rest converted into a library, which can be open to the public,” said Vishal R, commissioner, department of public instruction.
Block education officers said children of classes 1-3, which follow Nali Kali will be clubbed in one classroom, while the other students will be in the second classroom. There are five rooms altogether. The school on Commissariat Road and has a mix of British colonial and vernacular architecture. Its sloping, Mangalore-tiled roofs, timber decorative eave boards, ornamental plaster works and colonnaded verandahs are reminiscent of Bengaluru’s other heritage structures.
“We have noticed that the Gothic pointed arch windows are seen in 2-3 schools situated in the Cantonment areas. It’s an architectural feature typical to this side of the town,” said Meera Iyer of Intach. The roof has deteriorated and tiles broken leading to dampening of the entire structure. The plaster has worn off because of the dampness. Walls and ornamental features have been damaged. Roots from a tree close-by, has caused movement and breakage of kadappah flooring in the verandah.
Intach will look at restoring the roof, replacing the deteriorated wooden structural members, structural repairs to the cracks and the pillars and walls. Replastering will be done with traditional materials. To prevent the roots of the nearby trees from reaching the foundation of the structure, a flagging would be done. The estimated cost is Rs 30 lakh. Rotary Bangalore South Parade is expected to raise CSR funds for the same.
