Shivaji Park residents question panel motive

The residents said the de-listed structures were in the A ward and included the entire Marine Drive precinct. Chitale said,”There is strong reason to believe that to divert the attention of public from such deleted heritage building/sites,areas like Shivaji Park,Hindu colony,Parsi colony,Chembur precinct,etc. are recommended for heritage listing with specific grading.”

The affidavit also stated that Chitale had sought the inspection of 52 documents under RTI,from the MHCC. However,the committee let them inspect only eight,Chitale said. The documents that they could not inspect included the list of consultants who had submitted proposals/application with the MHCC and its meeting in which consultants’ qualifications were considered and appointments were made.

According to the information obtained by Chitale under RTI,Pankaj Joshi was paid Rs 6.33 lakh for conservation of the Matherpacady precinct in Mazgaon and the Khada Parsi statue at Byculla. The UDRI was assigned the task of reviewing over 300 listed heritage structures in the 1995 list and paid Rs 7.88 lakh,Abha Narain Lambah was appointed as a consultant to design a handbook of designing of signage,a nomination of dossier for Victorian and Art Deco Ensemble of Mumbai as a UNESCO World Heritage site,review of 1995 list,conservation of the municipal head office at CST for four years and Mahatma Jyotiba Phule market and has been paid Rs 2.63 crore. Adarkar Associates have been appointed to prepare an action plan for conservation of Chembur precinct,listing of heritage sites including review of Shivaji Park,listing of heritage sites in urban and rural districts of Thane and developing a document of heritage in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. They have been paid fees of 1.37 crore.

“It is pertinent to note that the contractors for carrying out the work are appointed by the consultants. Further appointments are made not by tendering process,but they are selected by the consultants to whom the work/project is assigned. Thus,public money is utilised as per the decisions and desires of the consultants,” Chitale’s affidavit stated.

mayura.janwalkar@expressindia.com