Threat on Heritage sites: Now, Karnataka government want to grab Carlton House

BENGALURU: It appears Karnataka politicians will not rest until they find a heritage structure they can call their own club. After attempts to convert the majestic Balabrooie Guest House into a legislators' club was demolished by public ire, the state's politicians-relentless in their pursuit - have trained their guns on Carlton House, another colonial landmark in Bengaluru that houses the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) now.

A committee under Industries Minister RV Deshpande will examine the proposal to convert the 136-year-old building on Palace Road into a Legislators' Club, the State Cabinet decided on Wednesday .

The proposal was mooted by Legislative Assembly Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa and legislator KR Ramesh Kumar.

The seven-acre heritage property houses the CID. The plan to create a Legislative Club, on the lines of Delhi's Constitution Club for Parliamentarians, was made known last year and met with severe opposition.

Even home minister G Parameshwara opposed the move to shift the CID. Architect Naresh V Narasimhan, who was part of a successful campaign to save Balabrooie Guest House from being converted into a Legislators' Club in 2014, said he may be forced to file a public interest litigation if the government does not drop the Carlton House plan.

"They (government) are relentless. The move will mean major modifications to the structure and also cutting down a lot of trees. Why are they obsessed with taking a heritage building," he asked.

Deshpande was unavailable for comment.

Built in 1880 as a residence by an English auctioneer named Carlton, the European-style stone structure served as the office of Sir Mirza Ismail, then Dewan of Mysore.

Carlton House was also the headquarters of Bangalore University when writer VK Gokak was its vice-chancellor, before the university shifted to the Jnanabharathi campus.