Urban planners, designers, architects, and conservationists divided over allowing more height and space to structures under Lutyens Bungalow Zon
With a set of stringent guidelines, it is difficult to even carry out slight modifications to buildings coming under the LBZ, which after 2003 included many areas that were not even part of Lutyens’ Delhi. The guidelines are now set to get relaxed after the Ministry of Urban Development asked the Delhi Urban Art Commission (DUAC) to review the norms.
The report submitted by the latter, now in the public domain for consultation, recommends not only the exclusion of areas such as Golf Links, Sunder Nagar and Bengali Market from the LBZ, but also the redevelopment of buildings within the LBZ, allowing those more height, floor area ratio, and ground coverage.
The proposed norms on the redevelopment of this heritage zone, however, has sparked a debate in the Capital with urban planners, designers, architects, and conservationists being divided over the issue of allowing more height and space to structures falling under the LBZ. The moot question that is being asked is what constitutes ‘heritage’?
“We have a concept of heritage and it would be a great anomaly if you rubbished it,” said A.G.K. Menon, conservationist and convener of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage’s (INTACH) Delhi Chapter. “We are not against development. You have the entire city for development; why is there such anxiety to redevelop such a small area that is declared heritage and admired world over?” he said.
DUAC chairman P.S.N. Rao, however, is of the view that bungalows, vacant plots, and barracks in the area, which are in a dilapidated state, can’t be called heritage. While Mr. Rao told The Hindu that many stakeholders, including INTACH, were consulted before the recommendations were drawn up, Mr. Menon said that he has been misrepresented and misquoted in the report. “We didn’t even get the minutes of the meetings till after the recommendations were sent,” he claimed. INTACH is preparing a report opposing the DUAC recommendations.
“Delhi is already burgeoning and the LBZ is the only salvation place. Redevelopment of the area would mean more people and cars, and added pressure on infrastructure, which is another aspect that has to be looked into apart from its heritage value,” said Priyaleen Singh, HoD, Department of Architectural Conservation, School of Planning and Architecture.