Tomorrow, Friday April 18, is World Heritage Day or International Day for sites and monuments. It is a day, especially for Mumbaikars, to reflect and process just how heritage structures in the city are treated, what is the way forward and how we can achieve that elusive balance — development with preservation because that is what the eternal debate is about.

First of course, is the huge problem with residential precincts which have heritage value. This is a real conundrum for residents and the heritage committee alike. Residents complain that they cannot go in for repairs or redevelopment and the buildings are on the brink of collapse. If redevelopment is allowed, it is but natural that the character of the precinct will change completely and finally, be lost altogether.