Redevelopment in heritage precincts: Maharashtra asks BMC to hear out residents before finalising guidelines

At present, there are 60 proposed heritage precincts in the draft list of heritage structures prepared in 2012. Some of these precincts include Marine Drive, Five Gardens, Fort, Hindu Colony and others.

IN A big victory for residents, the state government has asked the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to make public all guidelines for redevelopment of buildings in proposed heritage precincts and seek suggestions and objections from residents before finalising these. This means residents will be given a hearing before guidelines are finalised for their respective heritage precincts.

Civic officials said the Urban Development (UD) department had written to the civic body directing that suggestions and objections be invited from residents and that guidelines for redevelopment in heritage precincts be finalised considering their views. “The guidelines contain provisions for height of the buildings, user etc. which are similar to the provisos of the Development Control Regulations (DCR). It is, therefore, opined that the said provisions cannot be implemented directly without taking into consideration suggestions/objections from the public,” states the UD department’s letter.

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At present, there are 60 proposed heritage precincts in the draft list of heritage structures prepared in 2012. Some of these precincts include Marine Drive, Five Gardens, Fort, Hindu Colony and others.

The UD has asked the BMC to compile the instructions of the previous heritage committee, the present heritage committee and the heritage review panel for preparing the guidelines along with revised the Development Plan (DP) or Development Control Rules (DCR).

The heritage committee has been fighting to save the precincts and their unique character by permitting only minimum redevelopment. However, the BMC has maintained that redevelopment can’t be halted completely. Recently, the BMC faced flak from heritage conservationists after civic chief Ajoy Mehta submitted a report to Supreme Court allowing buildings up to 58 m in height along Marine Drive. The heritage committee had restricted the height at 24 m.

A heritage committee member said that a balance would have to be struck in conservation of precincts and development of areas. “Instead of preserving all the structures or precincts with similar characters, the areas, structures, precincts having uniqueness can be identified for conservation with regard to aesthetic and character,” added the member.

Ramanath Jha, chairperson of the heritage committee, was not available for comment.

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Residents have welcomed the move. “It is a very good move that the residents will have a say before its finalisation. At the same, there should some representation of the heritage experts and conservationists in the heritage committee also,” said Atul Kumar of the Nariman Point Churchgate Residents Association.

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