Call to renovate gutted Chepauk Palace

CHENNAI: The Prince of Arcot, Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali, has appealed to Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa to restore the historic Chepauk Palace that suffered heavy damage following a fire on Monday.
“The historic structure, grand Chepauk Palace, known as Kalas Mahal, which suffered massive damage due to the fire which broke out on Monday should be restored to its original glory,” a statement from the Prince read.
He appealed to the Chief Minister to accord utmost importance to see to it that the 244-year-old heritage monument, which has “great historical importance in south Indian history, is restored to its original shape and properly repaired and renovated and protected and preserved by the State Public Works Department, with the help and assistance of experts in dealing with such heritage buildings”.
Many heritage buildings in the country, which were much older than the Chepauk Palace, had been repaired and renovated and taken care of either by the National Heritage and Archaeological department or by the governments of the respective states, the Prince pointed out.
Recalling the renovation of the Senate House, which was built in 1857, he wondered why the Chepauk Palace could not be accorded the same importance given its historical value. It was perhaps the first Indo-Saracenic architecture in the country, he added.
The Prince also expressed condolence over the death of lead fireman K Anbazhagan in the blaze and wished for the speedy recovery of the injured, the statement added.

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