Frame regulations for repair/renovation of Grade-1 structures: HC

Nagpur: The Nagpur bench of Bombay high court on Wednesday directed Maharashtra government and Nagpur Municipal Corporation to formulate special regulations for repair/renovation of Grade-1 heritage structures as per ‘Clause 4’ of ‘Regulations for Conservation of Heritage Precincts/Natural Features’.
The directives came after architect Paramjit Singh Ahuja, who filed an intervention, brought to notice that Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had framed such regulations in Fort Area. He pointed out that these regulations can constitute guidelines for carrying out work of repairs, renovation or restoration of Grade-1 heritage structures, called as precincts that included Kasturchand Park and Zero Mile Stone.
Amicus curiae Kartik Shukul informed that development work can’t take place at any Grade-1 monument till special regulations are framed by Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) commissioner in consultation with the Heritage Committee.
“There’s a dispute in carrying out repair/renovation of precincts. According to NMC counsel Jemini Kasat, such work can be carried out even without framing such regulations, whereas Ahuja and Shukul stressed on their necessity. The regulations are required to be framed about which there is no dispute,” a division bench of justices Ravi Deshpande and Pushpa Ganediwala said.
Earlier, the bench directed Mahametro to hand over the iconic structure of Zero Mile to the collector after both passed buck on each other over maintenance.
“If Mahametro isn’t in a position to maintain this area, it could handover possession to the collector, so that he can be directed to take steps for maintenance. If it’s willing to shoulder responsibility of maintenance, then possession can be retained with it along with such responsibility,” the bench said, before adjourning the hearing till October 23.
The collector through additional government pleader Anand Fulzele contended that Zero Milestone area is already handed over and in possession of Mahametro and therefore, it’s the agency’s responsibility to maintain the monument.
Opposing his contentions, senior counsel SK Mishra pleading for Mahametro, argued that it was becoming difficult for them to maintain the cleanliness in the area and they’ve to hire persons from outside for the job.