Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

High-power heritage commission mooted

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A high-power heritage commission has been mooted for preserving heritage structures and advising the State government and local self-government institutions on conservation of these buildings.

The draft proposals drawn up for framing the town and country planning Act have proposed the formation of the commission, with the Local Administration Secretary as the ex officio chairman.

The proposals suggest that the commission have as members the Chief Town Planner; the directors of the departments of Tourism, Urban Affairs, Panchayats and Archaeology; the Chief Architect of the Public Works Department; the Superintending Archaeologist of the Archaeological Survey of India; two representatives of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working in the field of heritage conservation; an architect with expertise in conservation or urban design; and a reputable historian.

The government will nominate the NGO representatives, the architect and the historian. The commission can co-opt permanent or special invitees who profess sound knowledge in related fields for specific purposes.

The commission will inspect sites and buildings and conduct studies, surveys and documentation for preparing model plans and development controls for examining architectural features of buildings, precincts or natural heritage and heritage zones. Prescribing an architectural style or character for the listed structures and zones will be one of the prime duties of the commission, which will meet at least twice a year.

While creating public awareness of the importance of heritage conservation, the commission will reserve the powers to evolve schemes for the technical, financial and material promotion of individuals and institutions for the maintenance and protection of the listed structures and zones.

The commission will facilitate protective measures to preserve the listed structures and zones from natural calamities. The commission has to submit reports regularly to the government about the issues concerning heritage conservation and advise the government and the civic bodies on such issues. Creation of a fund has been proposed for fulfilling the objectives of the commission.

The Chief Town Planner’s office will function as the technical secretariat of the commission. It will seek the services of government departments, quasi-government agencies and local bodies for carrying out the tasks.

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