MUMBAI, May 17: For Bollywood's Mr Moneybags Bharat Shah it's a good deal-- reportedly Rs 38 crore for the 19th century Jaikishan Mansion at Walkeshwar which will be brought down to make way for a high-rise residential complex. But for Mumbai's handful of conservators and heritage experts, it's yet another example of the city's history being chipped away by commercialisation. Though the mansion is outside the precinct of Banganga and has not been notified as a heritage structure, it is considered as one of the finest examples of 19th century architecture.On March 19, the process of ripping it apart began, yet the glorious remains a beautifully carved ceiling, the mosaic flooring, a strong black wooden staircase, stain glass windows - are an eloquent testimony to the beauty that Jaikishan Niwas must have been.
The producer-financier seemed unmindful of taking away a structure, important to the city from the heritage point of view. ``How many buildings can the few people who care for heritage protect?'' heasked. While Dwivedi argues that it's high time the government did something to stop more high rise buildings coming up in the island city. ``At this rate several similar structures will go down,'' she says.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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