Owner’s Envy, visitors pride

170 heritage structures in mill land

By Dr Sanjay Chaturvedi

Heritage Conservation Committee has declared 170 heritage structures in mill land. These structures are age old and according to the committee a special treatments are required to conserve them.

Mill land, which is the latest entrant in real estate market will certainly have difficulties to conserve them and modify their plans accordingly. Every heritage structure requires a special treatment. No modification can be done according to the rules. Cama building, declared as heritage building, near Metro Cinema, took six months just to repair burnt electric meters.

Owners envy and visitors pride, is the situation as far as heritage buildings are concerned. No proper definition formulated by authorities for identifying and declaring any building or structure as heritage. It is only when some international agency recognises, we include the structure as heritage importance. There are more then 19000 old and dilapidated buildings in Mumbai. In the list even heritage buildings are included. Although heritage TDR has been allowed by the BMC, to be consumed in the same ward, it is difficult to identify the receiving zone for such TDR.

All over India, many NGO’s and specialised constructors are working to save heritage buildings. But the owners are least bothered, since the property they own cannot be sold, mortgage, neither any repairs can be conducted without the sanctions of the authorities.

Even the definition of heritage structures are not clear. Some of the structures which are having no historical background or any national importance are also declared as heritage sites. Archeologist are finding it difficult to convince the heritage authorities in many states to declare some of the rare structures as heritage importance.

In Mumbai, in particular Mahim fort, Sewri fort and kanheri caves although declared as heritage structures but there is no plans to conserve it.

Some of the heritage structures like Buckley courts are redeveloped with lot of criticism, residents says it is pure business. Why can’t they look at other forgotten heritage monuments instead.

It is now clear that nothing works if your building is declared as heritage building. You need to take permission to even single nail. It is nothing but owners envy and visitors pride