A holistic security plan will be chalked out for Chandigarh’s architectural heritage—Capitol Complex in Sector 1 here. For, the subgroup of Chandigarh Heritage Conservation Committee (CHCC) has decided to recommend formulating an overall security plan for the entire Capitol Complex instead of the premises of Punjab and Haryana High Court only.
The subgroup of CHCC, which met here on Tuesday to deliberate over HC’s demand of construction of atleast a seven feet concrete wall around its premises for security reasons, decided that a holistic security plan should be put in place in the Capitol Complex and modern security technology and concepts needs to be evolved to maintain the sanctity of the original Complex rather than fragmenting the edifices in Complex separately.
The Capitol Complex was declared a World Heritage site by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in the year 2016. The Complex is an administrative hub of two states namely Punjab and Haryana and has buildings of Punjab and Haryana High Court, Haryana and Punjab Secretariat and Assembly, open hand monument and other significant buildings.
The CHCC’s subgroup, which had visited the High Court premises on Saturday to assess the ground reality, is of the view that the existing security measures in the HC should be strengthened as the construction of a seven-ft concrete wall is not feasible around the entire Court premises.
After its Tuesday’s meeting, the subgroup will now submit its recommendations to the CHCC, which will soon meet under the chairmanship of UT Advisor Manoj Parida to take final call on the HC’s demand.
“Security of the entire Capitol Complex is important but at the same time, we do not want to endanger the heritage status of the Complex.
We have decided to recommend formulating a comprehensive security plan for the Complex involving all three stakeholders including Chandigarh, State Governments of Punjab and Haryana,” said a member of subgroup of CHCC, which was first constituted in 2012 to supervise the architectural preservation plans in the city.
Another suggestion will be roping in a security expert to prepare the security plan for the Complex in consultation with Chandigarh Administration and Governments of Punjab and Haryana, the member said.
After preparing the holistic security plan, its impact on heritage status will be analyzed and we will act accordingly, the member added.
In the past also, it was proposed to develop a comprehensive security plan for Capitol Complex but the same could be completed.
The member further said, “After the visit to HC premises, we have observed that the construction of a seven ft wall across the entire HC premises is not feasible.
The subgroup will recommend reinforcement of
existing security measures including the existing 10-ft concrete wall and barbed wires at certain points besides installation of modern security equipments.”
Notably, the issue related to the security of Capitol Complex came into limelight after the recent letter of HC to Chandigarh Administration directing it to construct atleast a seven feet concrete wall around the Court premises to ensure foolproof security.
In the order dated October 25, 2019, the Registrar General of High Court had directed the Chief Engineer, Chandigarh to undertake the construction of a high security boundary wall with the concertina coil covering the entire boundary of the of the court premises, beyond the imaginary Heritage Boundary line within three weeks.
Apart from this, the Chief Engineer was directed to prepare the rough cost estimates within seven days and to submit every week to the security committee of the HC photographs of the work undertaken by them.