Efforts are on to save heritage: CM

Tribune News Service

Shimla, November 27

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said the government was adopting innovative policies for conserving the state’s rich heritage.

Efforts were on for conserving and renovating old buildings, enhancing their architectural value and stability, he said.

At a seminar on ‘Sustainable Development in Hill Settlements’ organised by the state chapter of the Indian Institute of Architects (IIA), the Chief Minister said: “Architects should take themselves as designers ensuring balance between the needs of a client and environment so as to build structures that are climatically sensitive, energy efficient and functional.”

“The architects have an important role to play,” he said. He said architecture of the state was unique in character and quite different from the rest of India. This exclusive style was reflected not only in palaces and temples but also in the vernacular architecture of the region, he said.

“The major challenges here are soil erosion and landslides, suitable orientation on hill slopes and high cost involved in the site development,” the CM said.

He said while designing and planning, the architects should carefully understand climatic conditions, cultural influences and topography of the state.

For public parking in densely populated areas, multi-storey parking at Sanjauli, parking around the HP Tourism Lift are operational. The parking lot in Chhota Shimla would be made operational soon, he said.

The Chief Minister said the state government had made it mandatory to make provision of rainwater harvesting and solar heaters in new structures, besides strict enforcement of rules regarding floor area ratio (FAR), setbacks and circulation.

The Chief Minister also released a souvenir ‘Sustainable Development for Hill Settlements’.

Key speakers Arunav Das Gupta, Jeet Kumar Gupta and Ushil Sharma batted for sustainable architecture. IIA chairman NK Negi said the state lacked knowledge about architecture for which public needed to be educated.