Heritage: Mumbai's heritage movement, and other highlights

SUNDAY MiD DAY turns 32 Click here for more stories 1980 Bombayrsquos heritage movement The heritage movement in Mumbai actually starts off as an environmental one Under the Morarji Desai government it is decided that the Yacht Club in Mumbai then called Bombay would be razed to build a highrise Eminent people from the city including former municipal commissioner Jamshed Kanga compile a list of important heritage structures in Bombay and send it across to the then Municipal Commissioner It is the first time that people in the city come together to save iconic buildings The heritage movement saves many structures such as CST which in 2004 is accorded UNESCO World Heritage Site status Below Khotachiwadi File Photos 1984 INTACH founded Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage INTACH is registered under the Societies Registration Act 1860 It is modelled on the lines of the National Trust in England an organisation dedicated to preserving heritage INTACH prepares a list comprising 600 buildings of heritage value in Bombay However the list does not include precincts just yet City historian Foy Nissen is the advisor and historian on board 1995 City gets Heritage Conservation Act The first heritage committee legislation is drafted in 1992 In 1995 the state government enforces the Heritage Conservation Act As a result 615 buildings and 14 precincts are listed as heritage structures Mumbai becomes the first city in the country to have legislation for heritage and have a committee of urban planners and conservation architects 2004 CST named UNESCO World Heritage site The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus CST formerly known as Victoria Terminus was built by Frederick William Stevens in 1887 in Gothicrevival style The structure took 10 years to build and cost pound260000 It is named UNESCO World Heritage Site this year Then amp Now Vikas Dilawariconservation architect lsquoWersquove gained a lot but lost just as muchrsquo Is heritage conservation really a movement in Mumbai Thatrsquos a tough question given the frequency with which heritage structures in the city are listed and later delisted I feel the biggest issue the city faces is the lack of government patronage No conservationist is against development we feel that any progress must be sensitive to the cityrsquos heritage We gained much over the past three decades but lost just as much One of the biggest blows to the cause of conservation was when in 1998 Grade III cess structures or those in heritage precincts were removed from the purview of the MHCC As a result redevelopers got a free hand with old structures which allowed redevelopment that did not keep up with a precinctrsquos character Many buildings in Khotachiwadi have suffered because of this Structures need incentives and awareness Just listing them is not going to cut it We donrsquot have a single Indian government award in place yet Many lawabiding clients feel that permissions donrsquot come fast enough Like in case of tenantable repairs application to the heritage committee takes the same time as complex repairs and reconstructionThis is a deterrent too and if changed can be an incentive Along with an increased scope in listing we need heritage cells in the four zones or ward offices to give quick persmissions to tenantable repairs We donrsquot have a repair policy in place yet Not every one is in favour of redevelopment but what could one expect if they haveto choose between crumbling structures and newer buildings There is a middle way new structures could be integrated into the old Sadly thatrsquos not the case in the city yet