Heritage structures crumbling,INTACH to seek amendments to TCP Act

He said they had earlier taken up the issue at various levels with the government and some amendments were made in the Act in 2003,but those were not sufficient. “We want the Act to be amended again,keeping in view the new challenges. There is a dire need to further elaborate and strengthen local civic bodies,” said Sukhdev,adding that amendments would pave the way for setting up a heritage cell in each MC to frame rules and monitor the changes in old buildings.

The amendments will also suggest civic amenities and other incentives to the residents who own heritage buildings and help the government protect the age-old structures. “There is a total absence of any heritage cell or committee in the corporations. We want that old parts of cities are declared heritage zones and any construction or intervention in that zone should be scrutinised and carried in consultation with the proposed cell,” said Sukhdev.

The heritage cells must comprise engineers,conservationists architects and experts from social organisations and MCs,he said,adding that provisions should also be made for a policy to streamline land use change. He said major destruction of old structures was going on in the name of modernisation in the historic cities of Amritsar,Jalandhar,Patiala,Ludhiana and Bathinda.

“We should first implement the changes in the major cities through the MCs and then smaller cities,which too have historic structures,should be the focus. Similar provisions should ensured throughout the state,” he said,adding that they had been deliberating the changes in the Act throughout the nation and their chapters in each states were pushing for amendments in the civil laws.