OWNERS OF HERITAGE BUILDINGS/PRECINCTS TO BE MADE RESPONSIBLE
FOR ITS REGULAR REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE
ADDITIONAL SECRETARY (UD) TO HEAD
12 MEMBER HERITAGE CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE
Government is planning
to amend Delhi Building Bye-Laws, 1983 to incorporate provisions
for the protection of heritage buildings in Delhi. A public notice
to this effect has been issued inviting objections/suggestions
from the public. The salient features of the proposed amendments
are; it would apply to all heritage sites including buildings,
streets, areas, hills, water bodies, and walks to be listed accordingly
in Master Plan of Delhi. The local bodies of Delhi would prepare
a list of heritage sites including heritage building and listed
natural feature areas. It would include the entire property including
its compound. Before preparation of it, objections and suggestions
of the public would be invited.
The owners of these
heritage buildings/precincts would carry out regular repairs and
maintenance at their own level. The renovation, repairs, additions,
alternations in these buildings would be done only after appropriate
approvals of the concerned local body which shall consult the
Heritage Consultative Committee to be appointed for this purpose.
That is, for ordinary building only construction and erection
needs approval while for these heritage buildings renovation and
repair would also need approval not only of the local body but
also of Heritage Conservation Committee. In case of difference
of opinion between local body and Heritage Conservation Committee,
the decision of the latter would be final.
The development
of the building can be done as per the modified Development Control
Norms (DCN) that can be at variance with the other provisions
of Unified building byelaws. The DCN clearance will be given after
following the procedure of Delhi Development Act, 1957.
In case of maintenance
of heritage building, the Heritage Conservation Committee can,
within permissible use zone, allow conservation of part or whole
of non-commercial area within such heritage building to commercial/official
use/hotel. In case any other clause presently in vogue is in conflict
with heritage regulations, the latter shall prevail.
The Heritage Conservation
Committee would be chaired by the Additional Secretary in the
Ministry of Urban Development wherein an expert on heritage conservation
will be the Vice Chairman and Secretary, Delhi Urban Art Commission
(DUAC) will be the Member Secretary. There would be nine other
members in the committee.
