Tower Clock History
OUCH-UP TIME: Tower Clock in Anantapur being given a facelift for the second time in five years.
ANANTAPUR: Two memorials constructed in Anantapur town at the time of Independence, as a mark of respect to freedom fighters and to remember the historical achievement, appear to have lost their significance, if the meddling being done with them is any indication.
Of the two memorials, the appearance of Tower Clock, constructed on the Subhash Road at the intersection of three roads with a large watch viewable from four sides mounted on it, has become a target for the fancy ideas of two Municipal Chairpersons of TDP and Congress before the civic body was elevated to a corporation in 2005.
Losing sheen
On the other hand, the Peace Memorial Hall constructed on the Court Road for cultural and recreational purposes has lost its sheen, as its original use has long been forgotten. A restaurant was run in one portion of the premises for some time and it is being utilised only as a function hall now.
The idea of meddling with the original appearance of the Tower Clock was conceived by the then Municipal Chairperson, V. Prabhakara Chowdary (TDP), in 1999. Accordingly, the mortar plastered stone construction was stripped of its upper layer in early 2000.
The base of the construction was widened with cover-up stonewalls and the upper portion was coated with red clay tiles, specially ordered from Tamil Nadu. The fancy idea had cost the civic body Rs. 2 lakhs.
The next civic chief K. Noor Mohammed (Congress), who headed the civic body during 2000-05, got the large watch mounted on the memorial repaired at a cost of Rs. 1 lakh in 2003. But, the timepiece did not function even for a year.
As part of beautification of the town, another Rs. 10 lakhs was spent a year later for construction of traffic islands around the Tower Clock and on its three sides. Towards the end of his tenure as the civic chief Mr. Noor Mohammed had come up with the idea of removing the clay tiles and instead going for normal cement plastering in early 2005.
Accordingly, the civic body had sanctioned Rs. 3.5 lakhs for the purpose. But the expiry of its tenure and its elevation later had delayed another facial to the Tower Clock. As the Congress has retained its sway on the elevated civic body the work left over by the last council has been taken up now. The memorial has been stripped of its clay tiles and normal cement plastering is being done now. It will be painted with some waterproof shades after plastering work. However, the watch on it continues to be non-functional.
ANANTAPUR: Two memorials constructed in Anantapur town at the time of Independence, as a mark of respect to freedom fighters and to remember the historical achievement, appear to have lost their significance, if the meddling being done with them is any indication.
Of the two memorials, the appearance of Tower Clock, constructed on the Subhash Road at the intersection of three roads with a large watch viewable from four sides mounted on it, has become a target for the fancy ideas of two Municipal Chairpersons of TDP and Congress before the civic body was elevated to a corporation in 2005.
Losing sheen
On the other hand, the Peace Memorial Hall constructed on the Court Road for cultural and recreational purposes has lost its sheen, as its original use has long been forgotten. A restaurant was run in one portion of the premises for some time and it is being utilised only as a function hall now.
The idea of meddling with the original appearance of the Tower Clock was conceived by the then Municipal Chairperson, V. Prabhakara Chowdary (TDP), in 1999. Accordingly, the mortar plastered stone construction was stripped of its upper layer in early 2000.
The base of the construction was widened with cover-up stonewalls and the upper portion was coated with red clay tiles, specially ordered from Tamil Nadu. The fancy idea had cost the civic body Rs. 2 lakhs.
The next civic chief K. Noor Mohammed (Congress), who headed the civic body during 2000-05, got the large watch mounted on the memorial repaired at a cost of Rs. 1 lakh in 2003. But, the timepiece did not function even for a year.
As part of beautification of the town, another Rs. 10 lakhs was spent a year later for construction of traffic islands around the Tower Clock and on its three sides. Towards the end of his tenure as the civic chief Mr. Noor Mohammed had come up with the idea of removing the clay tiles and instead going for normal cement plastering in early 2005.
Accordingly, the civic body had sanctioned Rs. 3.5 lakhs for the purpose. But the expiry of its tenure and its elevation later had delayed another facial to the Tower Clock. As the Congress has retained its sway on the elevated civic body the work left over by the last council has been taken up now. The memorial has been stripped of its clay tiles and normal cement plastering is being done now. It will be painted with some waterproof shades after plastering work. However, the watch on it continues to be non-functional.
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