Mangaluru: Five years after an overnight demolition erased a 160-year-old landmark in Puttur, the site of the former govt school building remains strewn with rubble, with no clear plan for restoration or even a basic cleanup.This is quite an embarrassment for residents, given that the building was, at one point, used as a cultural centre named after litterateur Dr K Shivaram Karanth. Built in 1865, the structure was considered among the earliest govt school buildings in the region and was widely regarded as a heritage edifice. Over time, it also became a cultural venue, remembered for Jnanapeetha awardee Dr Karanth’s association with the space. It hosted drama workshops and was a key venue for Dasara festivities. There were proposals to declare the building a heritage structure and to restore and preserve it, but the structure was razed in 2021 before any of the proposals could be implemented. Residents and former stakeholders say the demolition was followed by years of neglect. The debris have turned the premises into an eyesore, with allegations of indifference against the School Development and Monitoring Committee (SDMC) and school staff. Panchakshari, former SDMC president who held the post when the demolition took place, said an inquiry by Lokayukta prevented action and subsequent office-bearers did not pursue the matter. He said the current SDMC and the education department could still take the initiative to clean the premises. Ullas Pai, president of Rotary Puttur City, alleged that his organisation, which was for long associated with the school, had offered assistance to clear the debris, but was rejected. He said the Rotary group was told not to associate itself with school activities. When contacted, Vishnuprasad, the block education officer of Puttur, said clearing the debris and maintaining the premises is the responsibility of the school’s SDMC.
