With an aim to preserve more than half-century old architectural masterpieces in the City Beautiful, the UT Administration would soon create a heritage fund. A separate heritage fund would be created to give monetary assistance for the preservation of heritage buildings of Chandigarh. This would include repair, surveys, planning among others works related for the protection of the heritage structures of the city.
The heritage fund has been incorporated as a significant component of the proposed heritage by-laws of Chandigarh. So far, no such separate fund has been created in the past for the preservation of the prominent buildings here.
The UT Administration has already done the grading of the heritage structures and as many as 13 heritage zones have been created in the city. Chandigarh’s founder le Corbusier designed Capitol Complex, including Secretariat, High Court, Open Hand, etc. along with prominent precincts of Corbusier’s original office at Sector 19, Government Press building at Sector 18 and Chandigarh College of Architecture at Sector 12 have been placed under grade I, while four private houses, including three in Sector 5 and one in Sector 4, have been placed under grade II of heritage status here.
Notably, the creation of separate heritage fund becomes imperative with Capitol Complex included in the trans-border serial nomination for UNESCO heritage status for the year 2015. “The heritage fund would be used for the conservation of heritage buildings placed under various grades for protection. The fund would be used mainly to support the cost of listing of heritage buildings/ sites and expert guidance and fees for architects, engineers and other experts,” said a senior official of UT Urban Planning Department while talking to The Pioneer.
The official said, “There is a need to create a separate heritage fund and the higher authorities have already given a go ahead for this. Now, the Department is in process of finalizing the heritage bylaws in the city. It would be placed for approval in the meeting of Chandigarh Heritage Conservation Committee (CHCC).” “The CHCC would take the final call regarding the amount of the heritage fund which is likely to be crores of rupees. Also, the funds would be spent after the approval of the CHCC,” added the official.
The meeting of CHCC is scheduled to be held on November 12. The model heritage regulations framed by the UT consists of sections including preparation of heritage list, criteria for listing, grading of the listed buildings/precincts, development control, existing plans and projects, incentive uses for heritage buildings among others.
Besides, the UT has proposed restrictions on development/re-development/repairs of heritage structures, protection of visual landscape and surroundings, penalties for violation and seeking prior approval to preserve the beauty of the concerned areas.