Experts: Regional approach must for maintaining ecology

Chandigarh, April 18

A symposium on ‘Natural Landscapes’ was held at the Chandigarh College of Architecture, Sector 12, here today.

The event was organised in association with the International Council on Monuments and Site, an NGO, to mark International Day for Monuments and Sites.

The symposium took on various themes, including how the periphery around Chandigarh has changed over the years, deviating from the original plan, unchecked development of Chandigarh and its surrounding areas. The discussion revolved around the relationship between the urban and rural areas and experts proposed that Chandigarh should have a regional approach to maintain its ecology.

Gobbling up farmland

According to Ravinder Kaur, Prof of Urban Geography, Panjab University, said there had been haphazard spatial urban development and ‘prime’ agricultural land has been encroached upon.

Panellists pointed out that the while the UT was still able to manage the periphery which came under its administration, a large part of its periphery lay within Punjab and Haryana, where rampant and unplanned construction activity has taken place. Chandigarh was supposed to have a “buffer area” of about 16 km on all sides.

Lack of planning

Gurmeet Kaur, who has served as a Senior Town Planner in the Chandigarh Administration, said the urban planning authorities tend to make a lot of “textbook plans”, without taking into consideration their applicability. — TNS

Book launch

A book titled ‘Approach to Conservation and Restoration – A specific Focus on Cultural Heritage of Shimla’ by conservation architect Saumya Sharma was also launched.