HC raps HCC for not deciding heritage status of Pragati Maidan

Delhi High Court today pulled up the Heritage Conservation Committee (HCC) for not yet deciding on whether 62 buildings in Pragati Maidan here, including the Hall of Nations and Nehru Pavilion, need to be declared as 'modern heritage' and be protected.

"Everybody is passing the buck. No one wants to take a decision," Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva said and asked HCC why it started the process for determining modern heritage status of post-Independence buildings based on a list of buildings sent by INTACH when it had to come from the local bodies.

"On what basis did you start the process if it (list) was to come from the local bodies? Why don't you finalise it and take a decision within 10 days," the court asked HCC.
 

However, India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) which owns the Hall of Nations and Nehru Pavilion objected to the HCC taking a decision on the issue, saying waiting for them to decide would further delay the project for setting up a world class facility replacing these two buildings.

The court said if HCC says that the two buildings, whose demolition has been put on hold, are not heritage structures then that is the end of the matter.

"If they (HCC) say that the buildings have to be protected then we will have to see what needs to be done," it said.

Thereafter, ITPO lawyers contended that this issue of protecting these buildings was raised earlier in another plea and sought time to place that matter before the court tomorrow.

In view of the submission made by ITPO, the court listed the plea of INTACH for hearing tomorrow.

The court had earlier expressed displeasure over the HCC not having any criteria for deciding 'modern heritage' status of post-Independence buildings in the national capital ever since the panel was set up in 2004.

INTACH, in its plea, has alleged "complete abdication" of responsibility by HCC and Delhi Urban Art Commission (DUAC) to protect the city's "contemporary architectural heritage".

Besides the Hall of Nations, other modern structures that INTACH has sought to be protected include India International Centre, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Lotus Temple (Bahai House of Worship), Sri Ram Centre for Performing Arts and Crafts Museum which currently are not protected under any law.