The state's draft housing policy, which is in the process of receiving suggestions and objections from citizens, opens up cessed Grade II heritage buildings and precincts to redevelopment by removing them from under the ambit of the Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee (MHCC), which is the city's only heritage conservation body.
Mumbai stands to lose several heritage structures and precincts if the state housing policy is cleared in its present form.
The state’s draft housing policy, in the process of receiving suggestions and objections from citizens, opens up cessed grade II heritage buildings and precincts to redevelopment by removing them from under the ambit of the Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee (MHCC) –the city’s heritage conservation body.
In an earlier amendment in 1999, grade III cessed heritage structures and precincts were excluded from MHCC’s ambit. Since then, Mhada takes a call on their repair and redevelopment.
Grade III structures are of micro local importance, in which structural changes are allowed within a broad limit. Grade II structures are of local or regional importance, in which only internal changes are allowed.
“The redevelopment of cessed structures in grades II and III will be allowed so that residents are not deprived of the chance of better living,” states the draft.
The MHCC, whose term recently expired, has written a letter to the state, objecting the clause. “It is likely that even those structures which can be repaired and preserved will be demolished for redevelopment,” a member of the old MHCC said.
The draft policy also mentions that NOC from the MHCC will be deemed to have been granted within 60 days of application, if not granted within the period.
“The period should be extended to 90 days, which we have mentioned in the letter. Once a party applies for repair or redevelopment permissions, it takes us weeks to get the papers. We try to meet at least twice a month, but even then 60 days will be too short a period to grant an NOC,” another member said.
Last MHCC chairman V Ranganathan confirmed the development. "We have asked the state government that MHCC’s nod should be made compulsory for the redevelopment of both grade II and grade III heritage structures and precincts,” he said.
A senior official from the state urban development department said the development plan being revised by the civic body will take care to ensure preservation of heritage structures.
Minister for housing Ravindra Waikar said once finalised, care would be taken to preserve heritage structures, unless they are in a dilapidated condition.
City status
There are more than 16,000 cessed buildings in Mumbai, most of which are located in the island city. Many of these more-than-40-year-old structures are grade II and III heritage structures.
There are 633 grade I, II, III listed structures and precincts notified two decades ago. In 2012, 868 additional structures and sites were proposed to be notified.
The draft policy has proposed 19 lakh homes in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region by 2022 through continuous creation of land bank.
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