Architexturez. wrote:
IT’S OUR HERITAGE, DON’T
PLAY WITH IT, MR PRESIDENT
A solar project at Rashtrapati Bhavan? No. Please
Every detail of New Delhi’s planning, a city spread over 26 kilometres,
was personally handled by Edwin L. Lutyens, who also designed the
Viceroy’s House, now called Rashtrapati Bhavan. His painstaking efforts
produced one of the world’s outstanding garden-cities with its refined
emphasis on elegance and civic grace. Its greening reduced temperatures
during the hot, dust-laden summer months of northern India; its green
character was enhanced by placing bungalows in rolling lawns and
gardens. Kalam’s insensitivity towards conserving Rashtrapati Bhavan’s
historicity is also evident in many of these bungalows which are being
degraded by ministers, members of parliament and senior officials who
occupy them. Crude additions and alterations carried out without
sanction show a contemptuous disregard for the conservation laws of this
area. This disgraceful tendency of these government and political
functionaries makes a mockery of civilised governance.
In the case of the solar project, the senior-most civil servant in the
Union Ministry of Power, Secretary RV Shahi, says, “An architectural
concept plan is being developed for the project with a view to integrate
the design with the environmental and planning structures of the
presidential estate.” How do you integrate an ungainly structure with a
clutter of photovoltaic cells and much else on its roof, with an
architectural tour de force like the President’s House? His meaningless
statement is meant to bamboozle the public, as is his assertion that the
project is “a vision statement about energy security and environmental
responsibility”. If anything, it shows lack of vision, and a sense of
irresponsibility. The Urban Arts Commission’s suggestions, he says, are
also being sought. Having seen the decline of the Commission over the
decades, it is no longer able to play an assertive role. The public must
play that role by opposing the destruction of Delhi’s rich heritage.
The irretrievable damage to it is ongoing, as is also evident by the
disregard of sane urban planning because of the Commonwealth Games 2010,
which the Delhi government believes has given it the right to destroy
Delhi’s historic environment. A vile project, known as the “nh24 — Lodhi
Road Linkage”, will if executed adversely affect Humayun’s Tomb, the
Nizamuddin Dargah, Lodhi Gardens, Safdarjung’s Tomb and several other
lesser known structures on Lodhi Road. This is only the tip of the
iceberg. Delhi’s new Master Plan, yet another disastrous proposal, if
implemented, will also prove catastrophic to this city of ancient
lineage. The Plan, instigated by people who understand political
populism more than the continuity of cultures, conservation principles,
and respect for a great heritage, will destroy whatever is left of it.
The unholy nexus of greedy politicians, officials and developers will
ensure that.
So wherein lies the hope? In the assertiveness of people who care. By
raising their voices they can still stop the rot. If they don’t they
will prove no different from those who have brought us to this pass.
cont'd....
http://www.tehelka.com/story_main26.asp?filename=op021007Its_our.asp
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