Conservation panel set up to monitor work at Raisina Hill

While the North Block houses the Ministries of Home Affairs,Finance and Department of Personnel Affairs and Training,the South Block houses the Ministries of Defence,External Affairs and the Prime Minister’s Office.

According to sources,a series of building violations had come up in both these buildings over the past few years. They included removal of the original teakwood windows to install aluminium windows for the purpose of installing air-conditioners,stacking of discarded furniture in corridors and conversion of open spaces into work areas.

The government has recognised the need to lay down clear technical guidelines to ensure that these heritage buildings are provided with modern amenities to meet present-day requirements like climate control and other facilities,without adversely affecting the heritage character and architecture of these buildings.

A set of ‘Guidelines to be followed by CPWD and Ministries / Departments in occupation of North and South Block’ has been issued to regulate and guide all future work.

An annual conservation audit at the North and South Blocks will now be undertaken to ensure that the guidelines are adhered to. The annual audit would be conducted by a team chaired by the chairman of the Delhi Urban Art Commission and assisted by the Director-General of ASI and the Director-General of CPWD.

The audit report would be forwarded by the Ministry of Urban Development to other departments/ministries housed in the buildings. A bi-annual conservation audit would be also undertaken by a team of three professional experts.