MYSURU: Rohini Sindhuri, the IAS officer transferred out of as Mysuru deputy commissioner on Saturday, defended the construction of an indoor swimming pool at Jala Sannidhi, a heritage property and the residence of the DC of the district.
In her reply to Mysuru regional chief GC Prakash, who is investigating whether heritage norms were violated, Sindhuri claimed the construction of the pool was a “pilot project” under Nirmithi Kendra.
Sindhuri stated that since the government body “had no space to execute the project”, it used a small portion at the bungalow.
The pool was constructed in January at a cost of Rs 28 lakh and the project was approved at a Nirmithi Kendra general body meeting.
Incidentally, the local DC is chairman of Nirmithi Kendra society.
‘Pool land not connected to heritage bldg’The 2009-batch IAS officer pointed out that new buildings were constructed on the premises of heritage properties such as Mysore City Corporation, Vasanth Mahal, Jaladarshini and the RC Office (High View).
She stated that “none of these constructions in the campuses were considered as any violation to the heritage building.” In her letter dated June 5, which she released to the media, the IAS officer said: “Nirmithi Kendra executed the pool work at Rs 28.7 lakh out of its own funds as per its prescribed objectives to test and implement locally available resources by adopting cost-effective technology (sic).” The bungalow is spread over 5.1 acres and the pool occupies a small piece of land which is unconnected with the heritage building, she said.
After a row erupted over construction of the pool, the revenue department, on May 31, ordered the RC to conduct a probe.
Sindhuri’s explanation is in response to information which the RC had sought on June 2.