Restoration of Viceregal Lodge
Renowned experts to be involved
Pratibha Chauhan
Tribune News Service

Shimla, September 19
Renowned conservation architects Romi Khosla and Sweena Berry will
now be involved in the task of undertaking conservation and
restoration work of the historic Viceregal Lodge, housing the Indian
Institute of Advanced Studies (IIAS).

With large-scale damage being caused to the precious Burmese teak
wood used extensively in the interiors of the imposing structure, the
institute authorities are no longer willing to leave the conservation
work in the hands of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

Khosla and Berry remained associated with the IIAS's conservation
work undertaken by INTACH about 20 years ago. The institute
authorities have selected them out of a list of 14 prominent
conservation architects whose names had been considered
for the task.

Although the ASI takes care of the IIAS, not much has been done to
undertake the necessary conservation and restoration work. As such,
the IIAS authorities have decided to requisition the services of
these two architects, who have experience in working with British-
time stone structures.

"The main task at hand for the two architects will be to conserve the
structure in its original form and prevent it from further decay. As
part of the restoration task, they will have to repair or replace the
damaged areas with identical material and style so that the original
structure remains unchanged," explained B.S. Malhans, convener of the
state chapter of INTACH.

In fact, IIAS director Peter Ronald Desouza held a high-level meeting
of the committee for preservation and restoration of the IIAS in
Delhi on August 21 where the matter was discussed at length. Other
members of the committee included B.N. Goswami and Rajnish Wattas.
The Shimla chapter of INTACH would also be associated in the task.

Talks have also been held with the ASI, which is responsible for the
upkeep and maintenance of the majestic structure constructed by Lord
Dufferin between 1884 and 1888. With little care and maintenance by
the ASI over the years, the building, which was the residence of the
Viceroy of India during the British rule, is facing damage due to
leakage and other factors.