Final brakes applied by UNESCO on Chandigarh’s multi-crore Capitol Complex projects

UNESCO further stressed that “recommendations contained in the ICOMOS – International Council on Monuments and Sites – Technical Review of the three proposed projects for the Capital Complex of Chandigarh, a component of the property located in India, be implemented prior to the commencement of any construction.”

Chandigarh administration through the Ministry concerned had sought reconsideration of the decision after the UNESCO World Heritage Committee had asked them to suspend three projects – heating and air conditioning, multi-level basement car park project, and holistic development of Punjab and Haryana High Court project in the Capitol Complex of Chandigarh. The administration had stated that the projects worth crores had been planned and would also leave behind severe financial implications if they were not implemented.

UT officials were really pressing for the case stating that they are in a fix as while the project of parking is yet to be started, others were already underway. Tenders for some had already been floated.

The UNESCO World Heritage Committee in its fresh decision announced, “Having examined. Recalling Decision. Recommends that the projects for the Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning ancillary structures project, for the Multilevel basement car park project, and for the Holistic Development of Punjab and Haryana High Court Project in the Capitol Complex of Chandigarh be suspended, in view of the negative impacts resulting from the HIA reports, and that alternative locations and solutions be sought, which do not impact on the OUV of the property, and also requests, the state party to submit the new proposals to the World Heritage Centre for review by the advisory bodies.”

The Committee further said, “Further requests the State Party of India that the recommendations contained in the ICOMOS Technical Review of the three proposed projects for the Capital Complex of Chandigarh, a component of the property located in India, be implemented prior to the commencement of any construction. Finally requests the State Parties to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by December 1, 2024, an updated joint report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 47th session.”

The World Heritage Committee also maintained, “Welcomes the enhanced cooperation between State Parties for the conservation of the property, in particular through regular meetings of the International Standing Conference. Acknowledges the efforts made by the State Parties to undertake Heritage Impact Assessments (HIAs) for proposed works in the different components of the property, also welcomes the submission of three HIA reports for proposed works at the Capitol Complex of Chandigarh (India), and requests the State Parties to consistently notify the World Heritage Centre of new projects within the property and its buffer zone that may have a negative impact on the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property and to approve only those project proposals for which HIAs, conducted in line with the Guidance and Toolkit for Impact Assessments in a World Heritage Context, do not identify a negative impact.”

WHAT HAPPENED IN SEPTEMBER

In September, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee had in its draft decision suspended three major multi-crore projects in the Union Territory, including the ambitious holistic plan of Punjab and Haryana High Court in the Capitol Complex, citing serious objections. Following UNESCO’s decision, the Chandigarh administration had through the Ministry concerned moved UNESCO to reconsider their request.

The Capitol Complex – designed by Swiss-French architect-planner Le Corbusier – had India seeking UNESCO’s World Heritage site status, which was finally granted in 2016 at a conference in Istanbul.

In its draft decision sent by the committee to the Ministry of Culture, which had been further sent to the Chandigarh Administration, the World Heritage Committee had said that these projects undertaken and commissioned by the administration are impacting the OUV – Overall Universal Value – of the UNESCO site and these may be suspended.

The UNESCO World Heritage Committee had in a communiqué to the Ministry of Culture specified that these projects do not qualify the heritage impact assessment and are not complying with the ICOMOS guidelines.

The ICOMOS is the world heritage body that has its guidelines which a heritage site has to fulfill.

THE PROCESS

The assessment was done according to the ICOMOS guidelines and was also sent to the Le Corbusier Foundation – the nodal agency that coordinates with the World Heritage Committee and the State parties (country).

The ICOMOS is the same body that had earlier accepted the recommendations of the expert heritage committee formed by the Home Ministry for Capitol Complex to be included in the list. The ICOMOS, a non-governmental organisation, was founded in 1965 after the adoption of the Charter of Venice, in order to promote the doctrine and the techniques of conservation.

While seeking reconsideration of the decision, the UT administration argued that the plans and certain projects in Capitol Complex’s Punjab and Haryana High Court were mentioned by them in 2019-20 in the dossier.

Role of World Heritage Committee

The World Heritage Committee discusses the management of existing world heritage sites and is also responsible for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention which defines the use of the World Heritage Fund and allocates financial assistance upon requests from States. It can refuse to give financial assistance if it finds the project not complying with the guidelines.

What all is in Capitol Complex

Spread over more than 100 acres in Sector 1, Capitol Complex was the prime manifestation of Chandigarh’s architecture designed by Le Corbusier, with the Shivalik Hills in the backdrop making the sight more serene and grand. The buildings at the complex include the Open Hand monument, the high court, the Tower of Shadows, the Geometric Hill, the legislative assembly, and the secretariat.

Crores of funds frittered away for ‘restoration’

Funds worth crores have been splurged in the name of restoration of the Capital Complex which has been going on for ages. It has been almost six years that the Chandigarh Administration has been restoring the Capitol Complex.

Tenders up to Rs 26 crore were floated only for restoration. Obstructions such as hired consultants leaving the restoration work midway added to the misery.

The work of restoration, preservation, conservation, and management of Capitol Complex also had to be carried out for Rs 25.51 crore. Of this, the civil component was Rs 19.85 crore while Rs 2.60 crore was to be spent on public health services. On electrical installation, Rs 3.06 crore was supposed to be spent.