The Times of India 01.09.2009
Heritage Structures go 'missing' from AMC records
AHMEDABAD: Civic body which runs a full-fledged heritage department has no idea about the number of heritage buildings in the city. The 12,500 buildings which come under Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) have suddenly gone missing from its records.
At least this is what AMC's heritage department replied when asked 11 questions under Right to Information Act (RTI) by Nilay Trivedi, a resident of Nagar Wado, Khadia. In its reply, the department denied having any information about heritage buildings in the six municipal zones of civic body, including central zone which has the highest number of such buildings in the city. Areas including Khadia, Kalupur, Jamalpur, Raikhad, Dudheshwar, Madhupura, Girdharnagar, Dariapur and Shahpur comprise the central zone.
Trivedi filed an RTI to know the existing status of heritage buildings, which are slowly either turning into commercial hubs or being demolished for ulterior motives. "AMC authorities have been actively promoting rich heritage of the walled city but not much has been done on the ground level. Many valuable pieces of architecture from these buildings are making their way to the black market," Trivedi said.
He added that the replies he got under RTI categorically stated that heritage department has no record about the grading of heritage buildings. This was given to him on May 25, 2009. In September 2007, state government issued a new General Development Control Regulation categorizing heritage buildings in three grades depending on national, local and architectural importance.
Asked about the existing heritage list in AMC, in-charge deputy estate and town development officer, central zone, Rajendra Jadhav said, "There are around 12,500 listed heritage buildings in the central zone. Each of these are broadly categorized on their structural status fair and bad."
The RTI replies are signed by assistant manager, heritage, Rahul Shah. When contacted, Debashish Nayak advisor, heritage cell, AMC, said, "We have an existing heritage list but we have to see the reasons for which authorities failed to reply correctly to the applicant."
At least this is what AMC's heritage department replied when asked 11 questions under Right to Information Act (RTI) by Nilay Trivedi, a resident of Nagar Wado, Khadia. In its reply, the department denied having any information about heritage buildings in the six municipal zones of civic body, including central zone which has the highest number of such buildings in the city. Areas including Khadia, Kalupur, Jamalpur, Raikhad, Dudheshwar, Madhupura, Girdharnagar, Dariapur and Shahpur comprise the central zone.
Trivedi filed an RTI to know the existing status of heritage buildings, which are slowly either turning into commercial hubs or being demolished for ulterior motives. "AMC authorities have been actively promoting rich heritage of the walled city but not much has been done on the ground level. Many valuable pieces of architecture from these buildings are making their way to the black market," Trivedi said.
He added that the replies he got under RTI categorically stated that heritage department has no record about the grading of heritage buildings. This was given to him on May 25, 2009. In September 2007, state government issued a new General Development Control Regulation categorizing heritage buildings in three grades depending on national, local and architectural importance.
Asked about the existing heritage list in AMC, in-charge deputy estate and town development officer, central zone, Rajendra Jadhav said, "There are around 12,500 listed heritage buildings in the central zone. Each of these are broadly categorized on their structural status fair and bad."
The RTI replies are signed by assistant manager, heritage, Rahul Shah. When contacted, Debashish Nayak advisor, heritage cell, AMC, said, "We have an existing heritage list but we have to see the reasons for which authorities failed to reply correctly to the applicant."
