Srirangapatna fire station plans in trouble

MYSORE: The Fire and Emergency Services Department has came under the radar for the construction of a fire station near the fort at Srirangapatna by violating the provisions of The (Karnataka) Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act.The Directorate of Archaeology and Museums has issued legal notice to the Department of Fire and Emergency Services for violating the Rule 11 of The (Karnataka) Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act by taking up the construction of a fire service station near the state’s protected monument at the Srirangapatna.According to the notice issued by the Director of Archaeology and Museums, Dr R Gopal, the Department of Fire and Emergency Services has constructed a fire station at Survey number 145/AP2, near the protected monument fort and moat.As per the provisions of Rule 11 of The (Karnataka) Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, within the 300 m of the protected monument, which includes 100 m prohibited area and 200 m regulated area, should not take up any construction work or mining operations. Though the Fort and Moat are the protected monuments of the state, the Fire and Emergency Services taken up construction of the fire station within about 10 m of fort and moat.After seeing the construction work, the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums had issued notice to Fire and Emergency Services on October 7, 2011. For this, there was no reply that was given by the concerned authority. Hence, finally a legal notice has been issued seeking a reply within seven days to the Regional Fire Officer, Dr Gopal said.He also strictly instructed the authorities to stop the construction work immediately and give a reply within seven days or else steps will be taken to demolish the construction.On condition of anonymity, an official working in the Regional Fire Office said that about 1.5 acres was allotted by the District Administration of Mandya in the interest of the public. Accordingly, the department has started construction works, he added.