Kakinada: A more than 200 -year- old historical building, built by the Dutch, in the court complex at Kakinada is attracting the att-ention of general public as well as legal professionals. The District Co-urt functioned in the bu-ilding till four years ago.
Then there was need for repair and the courts were shifted elsewhere. From then on it has remained unused. The Roads and Buildings Department estimated construction of new building for courts at a cost of Rs 4 crores four years back. But, sources said that an advocate appealed to the government to preserve it as a heritage site in view of its historical importance.
According to archaeological department officials, the buildings has not been placed in their list. With these transactions, the building is unused. There are different opinions about the future of building.
“It is said that the building has a historical significance that there was a way in the ground floor and steps to go elsewhere. If the R&B officials disclose the plans of building, we can kn-ow the historical importance of the Dutch Buil-ding,” said INTACH (In-dian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heri-tage) District Convener and also state co-convener L. Seshukumari.
The Kakinada Bar Association vice-presi-dent Pusarla Ramu, su-ch buildings should be preserved as heritage sites as it will reflect our history and the methods of construction to future generations.
He said that such old buildings are rare in Kakinada, and therefore should be protected by the government. However, the member of Bar Council B.Gokul Krishna said that the government should take steps either renovate the building or demolish it, but, it should be utilised. The Kakinada Bar Ass-ociation president Pep-akayala Ramakrishna said that the government should take a decision on the building immediately.
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