by

Sanjeeb Mukherjee

Besides being ugly, the modern buildings replacing the old, are in gross violation of law. Building bye laws and Urban Development Acts have been violated with a daring impunity by structures in Lutyen’s Delhi.

The Delhi Urban Arts Commission, which was constituted by an Act of the Parliament that has to be consulted before approval of any plans in this part of the city, has been bypassed for sanctions. Being without any teeth, the Commission has become dysfunctional and ineffective in checking the destruction.

Recommendations of the M.N. Buch Committee, constituted to examine ways and means of safeguarding the city’s heritage, have been unceremoniously dumped. Not surprising since its key suggestion related to a complete embargo on any reconstruction in LBZ, hitting at the root of the political-builder-administration nexus.

It is the high value that property in this part of the city enjoys that has led to owner willingness to dispose of the land and rake in the profits. According to rough estimates, property in the area is assessed to be in the region of  per square meter, a good enough reason for the land-Mafia to try and enter the market.

Ratish Nanda, a conservationist-architect and one of the driving forces behind getting LBZ declared as an ‘endangered site’ says, " As the property is highly valued, there’s pressure on the government from the builder lobby which has been eyeing it for years. The government recently approved the plan for construction of a huge complex to house the External Affairs Ministry opposite the National Stadium. This is likely to kill the beauty of the area," says Nanda and adds that all construction activity in LBZ should be banned forthwith.

Besides laying waste the Lutyen landscape, big buildings such as the Life Insurance Corporation and the State Trading Corporation have made driving on Delhi’s Parliament Street, Janpath or even Barakhamba Road a virtual nightmare. The beauty of Connaught Place has been completely dwarfed by these constructions that have replaced the more flowing lines of Lutyen’s aesthetic buildings.

Rubbishing the contention of the government and the politicians that the buildings are rundown and occupying space that can be put to better use, Nanda insists, " All talk of these bungalows being dilapidated and taking up space is rubbish. There are other options for proper conservation that do not require demolishing the bungalows".

In fact, an alternative suggested by conservationists is to open state galleries of arts and crafts. A pool of 4-5 bungalows could be converted into a complex just like ‘Dilli Haat’, that would serve the dual purpose of effective use of space, bring people to the area for pleasure and fun as also save these bungalows from being destroyed.

Conservationists scoff at the idea that these bungalows are in any case dying and up for renewal rather than preservation. The idea that these be swapped with multi-storeyed flats, is preposterous. "Ironically" comments Nanda, "this is the voice of the very same politicians who occupy eighty percent of LBZ, residing in the highest-security zone of the country. Will it be possible to maintain the same level of security if these buildings are rebuilt as flats?" queries Nanda.

Raging Controversy

The controversy raging over the fate of these eighty odd bungalows and grand imperial buildings is now being brought under an international spotlight by conservationists. Getting the site on the endangered list was the first step. It is now proposed to get international recognition for the cause, by roping in UNESCO, to help declare illegal any tampering with the unique beauty of the place on the lines of Cairo, Damascus and Jerusalem.

" Just as the Government makes special efforts to protect historical monuments, the same should also be done for LBZ, as it is our rich heritage and belongs to an important part of our history", feels O.P. Jain, head, local chapter of INTACH.

To give greater visibility and audibility to the issue, conservationists would like to carry this campaign to its logical end. It is a crusade and an uphill struggle, feel most of the conservationists with the final outcome yet unclear.

As Patwant Singh says, "New Delhi is a place of pride for not only the people who live in it but also for millions of other Indians, and it is the solemn duty of every Indian to protect the beauty and history of this place".

New Delhi had a distinctive and rare character that was the result of the blending of western and Indian architectural styles. Its mindless destruction will mean carving up and throwing away the history of the nation.

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