May you live a hundred more…

Procrastination is out. Urgency is in. So it seems with the Pune Municipal Corporation as it picks up speed to bring the 323 identified buil...

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Procrastination is out. Urgency is in. So it seems with the Pune Municipal Corporation as it picks up speed to bring the 323 identified buildings in Pune (within PMC limits) under the Urban Heritage Conservation list. City engineer Madhav Harihar is very clear that red tapism will be thrown out of the window, if it proves to be a hurdle in finalising this sensitive issue, which has been kept on the hold over the last seven years.

And so it is time to celebrate as these 300-odd majestic buildings that portray the glorious Peshwai and English architecture will receive an enhanced status in the city’s skyline.

At a crucial meeting of the Heritage Conservation Committee (HCC) appointed by the PMC, on Tuesday morning, most of the identified 323 buildings are scheduled to come under the conservation list, barring about 10 to 15 per cent of them, which might have been in a dilapidated and therefore an irreparable state by now. “Extensive site surveys are being carried out by the nine-member team and PMC engineers,” states Narendra Dengle, member if the HCC.

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And besides, to make Puneites aware of the many treasures that are in store in their city in terms of heritage architecture, the PMC is organising a grand exhibition at Balgandharva Rang Mandir on May 15, 16 and 17. States Harihar, “We have taken 70-80 photographs of various heritage buildings and are in the process of shooting some more. This exhibition is aimed at spreading public awareness of the city’s treasure. We will also be displaying the final heritage list.” Subsequently, the list will be published in local dailies, calling for suggestions and objections from citizens.

While another meeting is scheduled in the near future to discuss the finalisation of Grade III buildings, Harihar is confident that there will be no inordinate delay. What about the procedural delays like forwarding the list to the City Improvement Committee which stands dissolved at the moment and then tabling it before the city general body meeting? Assures Harihar, “In this case, we are contemplating a direct approach to the general body and approaching the press to avoid any delay.”

The Heritage Conservation Committee is headed by P S Palande, former municipal commissioner of Pune, Shivshahir Babasaheb Purandare, noted historian, Y S Sane and Subhash Bonde, noted engineers, G K Kanhere, a well-known town planner, Narendra Dengle, noted architect, Sujit Patwardhan, well-known environmentalist, Madhav Harihar, city engineer, PMC and assistant director of the Archeological Survey of India.

The properties have been identified as Grade I, Grade II and Grade III depending upon their importance and condition. Grade I comprises buildings “which may be associated with a great historical event, personality, movement or institution”, Grade II comprises “buildings of regional or local importance and possessing special architectural or aesthetic value” and Grade III “those buildings and precincts of importance of townscape, those that help determine character of the locality and can be representative of the lifestyle of a particular community or region.” While there seems to be a glimmer of hope of preserving our city’s architectural heritage, one must not forget that these heritage buildings do not include the ones in the Pune Cantonment Board which has several aristocratic and monumental structures. Are the PCB authorities listening?