Many heritage buildings in Delhi under 'severe threat': Report

[[{“value”:”

Many heritage buildings and monuments in Delhi are under “severe threat” due to encroachment, disrepair, incompatible use and insensitive reconstruction or alteration, and there is a need for stronger emphasis on conservation and monitoring of such assets, according to the city’s latest master plan.

From medieval tombs to British-era railway stations, Delhi is home to several thousand heritage buildings from different periods, with a certain segment identified as listed structures by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the state government or local civic bodies.

Unveiled on Thursday, the Master Plan of Delhi 2047 (MPD-2047), while charting out a development roadmap, also emphasises that the city’s skyline shall develop in a planned manner while “respecting the city’s historic landmarks, ceremonial avenues, heritage areas, and important view corridors”, and tall buildings shall complement the city’s cultural and natural environment.

The over 600-page vision document provides a long-term spatial, economic and institutional framework to transform Delhi into a globally competitive, environmentally resilient and inclusive capital, combining economic dynamism, technological innovation and high standards of liveability while preserving its rich historical and cultural heritage.

The plan outlines six objectives to realise the vision, one of which is ‘Enhancing Heritage, Culture and Public Spaces’, which seeks to protect and enhance heritage and cultural fabric, facilitate creation of a vibrant and inclusive public realm, build strong economic linkages and create opportunities for cultural experience, tourism and active public life.

For city-level strategies for heritage management, the master plan says that local bodies or concerned agencies shall set up “heritage cells”, which will monitor and manage heritage assets, identify landmark, modern or industrial heritage, delineate cultural precincts, promote complementary economic or cultural activities, conduct festivals, walks, etc., facilitate adaptive reuse projects and “set up a heritage fund” to support these initiatives.

Also, monitoring of heritage assets (maintained by respective agencies) shall be done on a “regular basis” to assess their condition and take necessary steps towards conservation or infrastructure upgrade.

The concerned agencies shall “facilitate owners of heritage properties” to undertake conservation of their heritage structures, it says.

It’s a seminal vision that could help conserve many neglected heritage buildings.

“Delhi is one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities, with a rich cultural and historical legacy reflected in its 1,459 identified heritage assets, including World Heritage Sites, protected monuments, heritage buildings, historic precincts and cultural landscapes.

“Many of these heritage buildings/monuments are under severe threat due to encroachment, disrepair, incompatible use and insensitive reconstruction/alteration. There is a need for increased emphasis on conservation and monitoring of heritage assets,” the master plan says.

Delhi has three UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Humayun’s Tomb complex, Red Fort complex and Qutub Minar complex, which fall under the ambit of the ASI, which also maintains several other sites.

Besides, a large number of listed structures come under the Delhi state archaeology department and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), especially old havelis and British-era buildings, such as the Town Hall in the Walled City and beyond in Old Delhi.

Built in the 1860s and endowed with Victorian architecture, the Town Hall has suffered years of neglect and is still awaiting proper conservation.

Delhi is a cultural hub with both tangible and intangible heritage assets. Preservation of assets and their adaptive reuse is required for “preventing degradation and loss of heritage and historic fabric”, the plan says.

There is a need to formulate strategies to utilise this “strong cultural capital” to boost the economy and foster unique cultural and public spaces and “acknowledge the landmark buildings as modern and industrial heritage of the city and bring them under the purview of conservation and cultural promotion”, it says.

In the plan, areas having a high concentration of heritage assets have been identified as “heritage zones”, defined as an area that contains a significant concentration, linkage or continuity of heritage buildings, structures, groups or complexes.

These include the Walled City (including Chandni Chowk), and areas within the Lutyens’ Bungalow Zone and within the Civil Lines Bungalow Area.

The MPD-2047 also proposes development of “cultural precincts”, defining it as a space that “represents a concentration of both tangible and intangible heritage, with architectural, historical, cultural, natural and associative values within a defined area”.

Such assets are connected to each other by streets and cohesive built form. These precincts may be identified in urban villages and the Walled City, it says.

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.

“}]]