The fire at 204-year-old naval dockyard building has once again raised the safety measures taken to conserve heritage buildings in the city.
The fire at 204-year-old naval dockyard building has once again raised the safety measures taken to conserve heritage buildings in the city. Though the Mumbai Heritage and Conservation Committee (MHCC) had asked the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to conduct an audit of all heritage structures which are vulnerable to fire and prepare a report, the civic body’s fire department has been sitting on this for four years now.
“We need to preserve these important and valuable heritage structures in city. We have finest and best heritage buildings in city. It has been observed that majority of the fire in heritage building happens because of short circuit— bad wiring and open electric meters. These issues can be plugged easily and for that we don’t have to spent huge amount of money,” Pankaj Joshi, former heritage committee member and executive director of Urban Design and Research Institute.
Former MHCC chief confirmed that they have written to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and city fire brigade to conduct the audit urgently. “Once we get report, then according to that, the precautions can be taken in each individual building. If the owners of the heritage structures fail to do so, then stringent penal action can be taken. That provision is also in the fire act. I am really surprised that the fire is taking place regularly in the heritage structures still the authority is not taking any step. We need to save the heritage structures,” he said.
According historian Sharada Dwivedi, the city is loosing all important heritage structures to fire. “We cannot bring back and reconstruct such finest buildings again. So, it is our duty to preserve them. The authority needs to step in immediately by giving incentive or tax benefit to heritage building owners. It wil`l motivate them to preserve them rather than neglect them. Otherwise, they will go for demolition to earn the extra bucks,” she said.
Senior fire department official said they were aware of the MHCC suggestions, but blamed it changes in administration.
“So no one has time to pay attention towards these aesthetic structures and their safety. We are also facing staff shortage. Our senior officials should address the issue soon,” he said.
When contacted, Hasan Muzawar, chief of the fire brigade, said he has taken the charge of the fire department recently and he was not aware about the audit of heritage building issue.
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