Giving a major push to heritage conservation, the Puducherry Government has notified the first list of 21 government owned buildings in the French and Tamil quarters as protected heritage buildings.
They were notified as heritage structures based on the recommendations of the State Level Heritage Conservation and Advisory Committee (SLHAC).
The notified list comprises prominent landmarks including the old Band Stand, Aayi Mandapam, old Light House, Foyer du Soldat, Pondicherry Museum building, Government Maternity Hospital, old court building, Raj Nivas, Clock Towers (Grand Bazaar and Bussy Street), Calve College, Soucilabai School and Le Café.
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“The PWD along with the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has already started renovation of a few buildings,” Ashok Panda, co-convenor of INTACH told
Heritage tourism has become mainstream in the city and the government would gradually sanction funds for renovation and conservation of these structures, he said.
The notification has come in the wake of a sustained civil society campaign to preserve the city’s architectural legacy after the 19{+t}{+h}century landmark The Mairie collapsed in heavy rains on November 29, 2014.
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Though the notification is welcome, it marks only the beginning of a process than an end in itself, conservationists say.
The maintenance and upkeep of the heritage buildings, which is a continuous requirement, will be with the government and INTACH will help the government in reusing the structures , Mr. Panda pointed out.
INTACH will shortly be requesting the government to notify private buildings in the list after consulting property owners so that they can be protected through the Comprehensive Development Plan or the Master plan being prepared by the government .
In 1995, a study by the INTACH had identified 1,807 buildings in the Boulevard as heritage structures. The number of buildings in the Tamil precinct which was 888 in 2008 had come down to 266 in 2013. In the French precinct the number of heritage structures had come down from 296 in 2008 to 220 in 2013.
“The government could amend the Puducherry Town and Country Planning law of 1969 or pass fresh legislation to notify private buildings,” an INTACH official said.
Once a building has been listed as heritage in terms of archaeological, architectural and historical importance authorities will not be able to demolish the structure. Any alteration or modification can be carried out only after obtaining the permission from the SLHAC.
The SLHAC is only an advisory committee and does not have statutory or legal powers.
The government should bring in a legislation (a Heritage Act) . If these initiatives are undertaken by the government the Boulevard town can become a model heritage town and could subsequently qualify to be listed by UNESCO as Heritage city, Mr. Panda added.