14 cultural properties, mainly temples, spread across nine districts will be restored during 2018-19

With only a fraction of heritage structures in the State being protected, a private organisation has emerged as a beacon of hope in archaeological restoration and conservation. The PPP model of conservation, by 2018-19, will see restoration of about 175 monuments and temples across the State.

The projects were initiated by the State government a few years in partnership with the Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara Dharmothana Trust (SDMDT).

A one-of-its-kind initiative in the country, under the PPP model, the NGO entrusted with conservation work has to bear 40% of the project cost and the State government chips in with matching grants. The onus is on the local community to contribute 20% of the cost so as to instil a sense of ownership in them.

The State Archaeological Department has declared about 780 monuments in Karnataka as protected and is responsible for its upkeep. In addition, there are about 608 ASI protected monuments.

“But besides these, there are nearly 25,000 to 30,000 unprotected cultural properties that lack conservation intervention due to paucity of funds and this is where the SDMDT initiative and the PPP model becomes relevant,” explained N.S. Rangaraju, retired professor of Department of Ancient History and Archaeology, University of Mysore.

A.H. Hariram Shetty, director of the trust, pointed out that 157 monuments have been restored under the PPP model so far and another 14 cultural properties, mainly temples, spread across 9 districts in the State will be restored during 2018-19 for which permission has been sought from the government. This will entail a cost of ₹3.25 crore, he said.

Incidentally, the trust which came into being in 1991 to preserve and conserve heritage monuments has a dedicated wing of experts, including archaeologists and conservationists, on its rolls. So far, it has restored 227 temples covering 25 districts and a Jain temple at Penugonda in Andhra Pradesh with its own funds. These are in addition to nearly 175 temples taken up for conservation through the PPP model.

“While 209 projects have been completed so far with its own funding, work is in progress with regard to 18 other projects,” according to Mr. Shetty. Once completed, the trust would have restored nearly 400 temples and monuments in the State by the end of next year. This private contribution, experts like Prof. Rangaraju say, is unprecedented in the annals of conservation.

The process of restoration and conservation entails field visits and evaluation by the expert team who then prepare a detailed project report.