In-principle approval given to action plan

Ramkrishan Upadhyay

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 12

After a series of auctions in foreign countries, the heritage protection cell of the Chandigarh Administration has given in-principle approval to an action plan to preserve the heritage furniture, designed by Pierre Jeanneret.

The Administration has been facing flak for failing to check the auction of the heritage furniture in various countries. Though the Administration did act in the past, due to an absence of a proper mechanism to check it, the smuggling of these items could not be stopped.

Under the plan, it has been decided to depute a dedicated staff to secure the heritage items. From making an inventory to store the heritage items, all will be the responsibility of the team. A dedicated place for storing the heritage furniture has also been finalised. It has been proposed to keep all heritage items on the first floor of the Government Press building in Sector 18. A fresh list of the heritage items was also placed before the team members.

According to the list, a majority of UT departments have prepared the inventory. While the number of heritage manhole covers, designed by Le Corbusier, is around 3,600, the furniture items, create by Pierre Jeanneret, are around 1,000. It has been proposed to collect the heritage furniture from departments at one place.