Capitol Complex restoration plan gets go-ahead

Ramkrishan Upadhyay

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 22

The Chandigarh Heritage Conservation Committee has approved the plan to restore buildings of Capitol Complex comprising Punjab and Haryana secretariats and the High Court. The plan has been prepared by Abha Narian Lambah, UT’s heritage consultant .

Sources said a consultant had given the presentation before the committee headed by Parimal Rai, Adviser to the Administrator. The consultant, in the presentation, elaborated in detail the steps to be taken to restore the original look of the buildings.

The consultant has prepared the blueprint for the restoration of all buildings of Capitol Complex to give them the original look as designed by Le Corbusier.

Lambah has also made a detailed presentation of the condition assessment report on the ground reality of the buildings in which she has found large-scale intervention in the original plan.

The report found loose wires, AC ducts, temporary structures, porch and violations in the Secretariat buildings. The Administration has selected Mumbai-based heritage architect Abha Narian Lambah to prepare the conservation and management plan for Capitol Complex declared as the world heritage site by UNESCO. The plans are being prepared as per guidelines laid down by UNESCO for the maintenance of the world heritage site

The consultant met senior officers of the Punjab and the Haryana Governments seeking their assistance for removing encroachments from the Punjab and Haryana Secretariat. The heritage consultant has been given three years’ time to complete the project.

Filth, garbage mar its beauty

Filth and garbage at the rear side of the Capitol Complex buildings have raised questions over its proper maintenance. While the administration is planning to restore the buildings, nobody has noticed the heaps of garbage lying behind. Residents of Kansal village have also raised the issue of sanitation, but the authorities of Punjab and Chandigarh have not taken any steps. People throw garbage here without any check.