WHENEVER one passes through Maharajbagh area, one cannot miss the majestic red-and-white painted building of College of Agriculture, Nagpur, under Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth. One feels proud that the city of Nagpur has this magnificent heritage. However, a look from inside makes one feel bitter about years of neglect towards repairs and maintenance. Sadly, the proposal sent for renovation of the building is gathering dust at the level of State Government in Mumbai, at least for the past few years. The building hosts lecture hall and administrative offices of the college, some classrooms, VTI (Victoria Technical Institute) hall, VTI Scientific Library which has a stock thousands of books and journals including old treasure of books. However, the condition of the entire building has been deteriorating over the years, thanks to the toll taken by time.

 

The building is crying for attention and one cannot rule out the possibility of any untoward incident. Even the library’s rich treasure needs digitisation as some books are so old that they may be lost forever for want of careful preservation. At the entrance of the building one comes across the beautiful colonial era staircase. However, a closer look at the ceiling reveals that neglect has weakened the structure from within. As one moves through the corridors, goes to the first floor, and climbs the damaged sandstone stairs to the characteristic towers, disappointment seeps in. One also comes across a crack in a column, and attempt made by the college administration with given resources to strengthen the column. One gets to see weathered sandstone flooring, uneven settlement of the floor. One can also see the fallen portions of stone eaves, rotten and softened wooden roof, exposed iron bars of ceiling, crumbling keystone of arches, broken sandstone parapets, vegetation growth, deterioration of old Mangalore rooftiles, rotting old false ceiling, and all things that could be result of years of neglect.

 

 

 

The administration of College of Agriculture-Nagpur made some efforts for conservation. In 2015, it took up an audit of the structure by roping in an architect. According to sources, the architect had assessed the cost of maintenance to be Rs 22 crore. The College of Agriculture-Pune had sent its proposal for construction of replica of its heritage building in 2008-09 to the Central Government, and it was approved. Taking cue from that, College of Agriculture-Nagpur, also sent its proposal to the Central Government in 2017-18, for construction of a replica of the old majestic building. However, both the proposals are gathering dust in Government files.

 

The History As per the official records, the building was constructed in the year 1858 by the then British Government. Initially, Government Agriculture and Industries Society was formed in Nagpur. It is said that the building was constructed as part of preparations for the visit of Queen Victoria. However, there are records stating that when Queen Victoria passed away in the year 1901, subscriptions were raised in the erstwhile Central Provinces to commemorate her name. A total of Rs 2 lakh was raised for the Society, out of which an amount of Rs 75,000 was allotted for the part construction of Victoria Technical Institute (VTI) building in Maharajbagh. The then Central Provinces and Berar Government founded VTI Scientific Library in the year 1902 to develop and improve agriculture and industries of the region and to disseminate and promote technical and scientific knowledge. In 1906, the British Government set up College of Agriculture, Nagpur. It is one of the first five agriculture colleges in the country; other four colleges being at Pusa, Kanpur, Coimbatore, and Lyallpore (Pakistan). The main building of the college was earlier known as VTI building. In post-Independence period, in 1969, College of Agriculture-Nagpur was affiliated to Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola. The college celebrated its Centenary in the year 2005.

 

We have proposed renovation, and new building: Dr Panchbhai When ‘The Hitavada’ contacted Dr D M Panchbhai, Associate Dean, College of Agriculture, Nagpur, he said that the college administration had prepared a proposal for renovation of the heritage building. “We have already sent the proposal of Rs 22 crore to the State Government, a couple of years ago. Further, we have sent a proposal for construction of a new replica of the old building at the cost of Rs 49 crore. Once the proposals get nod, we will take up the work of conservation and construction,” he said.