The Hindu : New Delhi News : Illegal structure inside MCD headquarters

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Sunday, Aug 01, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Illegal structure inside MCD headquarters

By Mandira Nayar

MCD canteen under construction at the Town Hall complex in New Delhi on Saturday. Photo: R.V. Moorthy

NEW DELHI, JULY 31. The laws that the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) frames certainly do not seem to apply to its own headquarters -- the Town Hall. In a blatant violation of its own heritage laws, despite the Town Hall and the Company Bagh being "protected" by the MCD, an ugly canteen is being built within the historic "green" without the required permissions.

Listed in the Indian National Trust for Art and Culture's (INTACH) "Delhi: The Built Heritage'', it was notified by the MCD in 2001 and any alteration or addition to the Town Hall or within the Company Bagh has to be cleared by the MCD Heritage Cell. However, with the members of the Heritage Cell clueless about an illegal structure coming up right in front of their office, these buildings seem to enjoy legal protection only on paper.

Interestingly, the engineer on the site seemed equally baffled on being asked whether the plans of the canteen had been passed by the MCD Heritage Cell.

"There is no need to ask the heritage cell or the Delhi Urban Arts Commission. We have been building the canteen for the past one-month. It a part of this office compound and therefore an extension requiring no permission,'' he stated.

The Town Hall was one of the first British buildings to be constructed after the Revolt of 1857 in Shahjahanbad.

A shadow of what it was during the Raj, the Town Hall was constructed on the site of Shahjahan's favourite daughter's "serai'' known as Begum Ki Serai. With many insensitive modifications to this elegant building, the Town Hall is a classic example of how seriously the MCD really takes its job of safeguarding heritage allege conservationists.

Sadly, the Company Bagh is no different. Jahanara Begum's garden in the 17th Century, the Company Bagh was redesigned by the British in the 19th Century. While very little of the British structure survives today, the "Lodi Gardens of Shahjahanbad" is essential to the fabric of this historic precinct.

However, the recent addition of the canteen has ruined the character of this piece of green forever.

"It is important to set your own house in order before you expect people to follow the rules. If MCD wants people to follow its Heritage Act, it must bend over backwards to observe its own laws in spirit as well in practice. Like they say Ceaser's wife should be above suspicion and the MCD should ensure that it keeps to the rules it makes,'' stated senior conservationist and urban planner, AGK Menon.

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