The UT Administration would soon take up the proposals to ensure comprehensive security plan in the heritage zone I—Capitol Complex in Chandigarh.
The Chandigarh Heritage Conservation Committee (CHCC) would meet on September 26 to deliberate over a number of issues including security arrangements in heritage zone—Capitol Complex here. During the third meeting of CHCC, proposals pertaining to provision of overall security measures such as perimeter security, accommodation for security personnel etc for Punjab and Haryana High Court in Capitol Complex will be taken up.
A senior official of the UT Administration said, “There is a proposal to provide a brick boundary wall with concertina coil around High Court Complex instead of barbed wire for effective perimeter security of the High Court Complex as part of the security of the HC. The same would be put forth for approval.”
After deliberations in an earlier meeting, permanent accommodation for security personnel deployed at Punjab and Haryana High Court has been planned as a subterranean structure. The same is a part of the overall development plan prepared by Police Department on the directions of CHCC. The proposal of the subterranean structure for permanent for security personnel has already been approved by Building Committee and now would be taken up at CHCC meet.
Besides, proposals regarding construction of temporary accommodation for security personnel of Haryana Government will also be put forth for approval. The UT Administration had proposed to have a comprehensive security plan in Capitol Complex and instead of the security tents being present, provisions of security tents embedded in the hillock, CCTVs and other hi-tech security gadgets were proposed.
The issue of renovation of government houses in various sectors would also be discussed during the CHCC meeting. A senior UT official said, “Most of the houses are heritage structures where both external and internal changes are forbidden on the basis of report of Expert Committee. The issue is to decide the extent to which these additions and alternations/renovations are to be permitted.”
Proposal for constructions and renovation in the Museum and Art Gallery which is grade I heritage structure falling in heritage zone II would also be taken up. Issues like providing barrier free approach for Chandigarh Architecture museum, creation of butterfly gallery in national history museum, provision of archives room at Chandigarh Architecture Museum, provision of cafeteria at terrace of Chandigarh Architecture Museum would be deliberated during the meeting.
The 18-member CHCC had, last time, met in May and had decided to expedite the work on bringing out a small booklet on the architectural value of Chandigarh. On the directions of Ministry of Urban Development, the CHCC was constituted last year to supervise the architectural preservation plans in the City Beautiful.