Cuttack, Nov. 24: Students of Piloo Mody College of Architecture have suggested several measures to renovate and preserve the historic Kankia palace in the city.
They presented their ideas before renowned architect and conservationist A.R. Karan Grover and Girendra Narayan Bhanja Deo, a scion of the Kanika royal family.
Kanika Kothi was the place where the modern state of Odisha was established in 1936.
“The students have done a remarkable job as they have taken up a palace that has been ignored. We will examine their ideas and come up with some concrete measures. Our recommendations will be presented to chief minister Naveen Patnaik,” said Grover.
Grover said there should be a local initiative to save the heritage sites. However, neither the Centre nor state governments have come forward to protect heritage sites in the country.
“We want to preserve the heritage sites and buildings including the Kanika Kothi. Today, the students have come up with interesting plans and ideas and we will study the feasibility factors and approach the state government,” said Deo.
“While making the comprehensive development project-2030, we enlisted around 100 heritage sites in the city, including Kanika Kothi, which have not been enlisted by the Archaeological Survey of India,” said architect Rajkanwar Nayak.