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Acts in the pre-independence era. However,in practice, these
physical planning exerciseshad been giving priority for
theimprovement of facilities, utilities and
transportation network and enforcementof landuse regulations.
While Town andCountry Planning conventionally aims atPlanning for
the future, the objective ofConservation of Heritage is to ensure
Future for the Past. Thus, in practice, heritageconservation was
often get sidelined as aminor item.
The Department of Archaeologywhich protects less than 100
monuments,sites and remains under theArchaeologicalSites and
Remains Actof 1968 is the main
state governmental agency, which bothaddresses and takes care of
conservation ofheritage; but limiting their scope to thoseof
Archaeological value. The ArchaeologicalSurvey of India has a
meagre 26 protectedmonuments in Kerala and a sizeableportion among
them are burial grounds inThrissur district. Does our heritage
worthonly this much? Definitely not.
The Heritage conservation projects inrelatively large scale were
also taken up inthe state for the first time with the Fort
Area conservation project in
Conserve
Our HeritageThe Department of Archaeology which protects
less
than 100 monuments, sites and remains under the
Archaeological Sites and Remains Act of 1968 is the
main state governmental agency, which both addresses
and takes care of conservation of heritage; but limiting
their scope to those of Archaeological value.
Eapen Varughese
For many urban areas in India, Urban/ Regional /Town Planning
Acts, considersconservation of heritage as a matter to be dealt in
Town Planning Schemes,popularly known as Master Plans, Development
Plans etc. The UDPFI Guidelinesprepared by the Institute of Town
Planners, India in 1996 also suggest to treat
Heritage and Conservation Areas and scenic value areas as
Special Areas while formulatingproposals. Of late, more emphasis is
being given to this sector in Urban and RegionalPlanning and the
role of urban conservationists is getting widely recognised.
The Travancore Town Planning Act 1108 MEandMadras Town Planning
Act 1920had identified preservation of objects or buildings of
archaeological or historic interest orof natural beauty among the
matters to be dealt in a Town Planning Scheme. This shows
the importance given for conservation of heritage since the
inception of Town Planning
22 COVER STORY
Efforts are on to maintain heritage character at Fort Area,
Thiruvananthapuram. A view before the
work started. On the right, present view.
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Thiruvananthapuram with the financialassistance of the central
government under11 th Finance Commission grant.Formulated by the
Art and Heritage
Commission and implemented by the stateArchaeology Department,
the project wonmany International and national awardsand
accolades.
Kerala is rich in heritage buildings andheritage precincts of
historic, cultural,architectural and aesthetic value of adifferent
league. The natural heritage ofKerala is its strength, which gave
it a globalrecognition as a major tourist destination.If the
tourism sector has to be sustainableand made versatile, these man
made and
natural heritage of Kerala has to beconserved at any cost. The
suggestions are:
Comprehensive listing of heritagebuildings, heritage precincts
and naturalheritage of the state shall be carried out andit shall
be a continuous process. The listedheritage shall also be graded
based on itsheritage value. The conservation of topgrade heritage
shall be assigned highestpriority.
It has become highly essential that newconstruction activities
has to be regulatedin
such precincts and alterations to heritage
buildings shall be restricted, with due regardto conservation
practices. Steps in thisdirection has already been taken in the
caseof Fort Area in Thiruvananthapuram, Fort
Kochi in Ernakulam and Canal Environsin Alappuzha.
Theuse/reuseof heritage buildings andprecincts is a critical
issue. For heritageproperties, hard-line conventional zoningshall
give way to lenient but careful adaptiveuse/reuse zoning.
Experience worldwideshows that such a practice can contributeto the
longevity of such properties byavoiding their disuse or misuse.
This is beingtaken care of in variation of Town PlanningSchemes now
underway.
For conservation of our heritage oftenit is essential to promote
sustainable heritagetourism. The sustenance of heritage tourismlies
in conservation of heritage, whetherman-made or natural. Once
convinced, themarket forces will take care of theconservation of
the heritage properties, asthey gain economic value.
Awareness on Heritage conservation isvery crucial. Local Self
GovernmentInstitutions, Governmental agencies,Peoples
representatives, entrepreneurs,
property owners and the public at large are
key players. Imparting awareness is essentialin a long run.
Role of Local Self GovernmentInstitution is definitely the key.
Awareness
creation in the first stage, impartingcompetence in the second
stage andenhanced involvement in the third stage.
Giving monetary assistance for repairsto listed buildings and
maintaining theheritage character of the listed precincts isalso
considered as an option for promotingheritage conservation.
Promoting conservation of heritage isessential, as controls
alone will not yieldfruitful results. Grihastali schemeintroduced
by State Tourism Departmentis an example.
Appropriate provisions/regulationsunder Town Planning
legislation may bethought of as advised by the centralgovernment
for legitimising the aboveaspects.
Town Planningschemesprepared by theLocal Self Government
institutions for suchheritage areas shall provide for regulatingand
promoting conservation of heritage.
The writer is the Chief Town Planner,
Government of Kerala.
