Heritage manhole cover in neglect at Sector 17

Amarjot Kaur

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 28

First, in August at the UT Sports Complex; then in September at Sector 21; and now at Sector 17. In the past six months, there have been three incidents of city’s heritage manhole covers being found in a neglected state.

Each time, Ajay Jagga, member of UT Heritage Items Protection Cell, raised the alarm. Twice, the manhole covers were restored.

MC Commissioner Anindita Mitra said a meeting with the UT heritage committee will soon be held to decide the fate of more than 2,000 Corbusier-designed heritage manhole covers in the city.

In a letter to Mitra on Sunday, Jagga wrote that the manhole cover on road opposite Kashmir Emporium at 30 Bays Building in Sector 17 is unattended and ‘exposed to thieves’. He wrote: “The frame and the heritage manhole are lying in pathetic condition and an open invitation to thieves or smugglers. Some concrete steps and action should be taken for the protection of these heritage manholes. This is a well-known fact that these manholes are auctioned in foreign countries for millions of rupees.”

On September 21, Corbusier-designed UT manhole cover was auctioned by Sotheby’s in London for Rs10.15 lakh.

Asking the authorities to take emergent action for protecting the heritage item, Jagga also reminded the MC that its representative is also a member of the Heritage Items Protection Cell. “Thus, the MC is aware of its value and must show its sincere concern by taking the matter on a priority.”

Designed by French architect Le Corbusier, nearly 2,000 cast iron manhole covers with an impression of the Chandigarh map are there in the city. In December 2019, the MC had approved a proposal for replacing these covers with cemented ones at an approximate cost of Rs75 lakh. This was done in view of protecting the heritage of the city.

Mitra said, “During the meeting with the heritage committee, we will also take up the issue of the 2,000 manhole covers in order to know if these manhole covers need to be preserved or replaced. We don’t have the expertise to deal with heritage items of the city. We can’t pick up all of such items and keep them in museum.”

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