Madikeri: The proposed project of the new Town Hall building has met with a hurdle from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). ‘Bhoomi Puja’ was recently held to construct the Town Hall in Madikeri, even when ASI had not given its clearance.Madikeri Fort, which is an archaeological site in the city, is located a few metres away from the existing town hall. Since the fort is a national heritage site with historical background, any construction in its vicinity must necessarily require ASI’s permission.There have been instances in the recent past where notices were issued by the ASI to the public who failed to get its permission for the construction work.The Critical Care Centre at the Madikeri District Hospital also faced a delay after the officials concerned allegedly failed to apply for permission from the ASI.As per the Madikeri City Municipal Council officials, an application seeking permission for the reconstruction of the Town Hall building was forwarded to the ASI in June last year. However, the application has not received a green signal. Officials said those concerned have not responded to the plea for over nine months.“The ASI was contacted for permission on June 24, 2025. However, no reply has been received till date,” said Ramesh, CMC commissioner. The ground-breaking ceremony has already been performed and the construction of the building has started. He shared that in case of any obstruction, legal help will be sought. “The seats, roof and other items in the old Town Hall building will be removed and kept safe. The work of levelling the ground has started,” he added.When questioned about the issue, the district representative of the ASI confirmed that the National Monument Authority (NMA) has to give permission for the construction.
