Incidentally Ghokale Hall is the property of YMIA, which is now being controlled by possibly by a group, interested in coverting the space into a commercial property. If it is a property belonging to a single individual/family, the person will think twice before doing such a thing.
YMIA, if I am right, is a public institution to serve the public cuase. Why should they develop a space by demolishing a great heritage structure?
Dalal Street in Bomay and the whole area around it being developed by the owners very nicely with out losing its original character. Can we not repeat here?
The Urban Heriatge Act, like that of Mumbai is very essential for Chennai too. There is a provision there to award more FSI elsewhere to those who preserve/do not demolish heriatge structures.
A urban city must have open space. Harappa had it. Every city in the present world has it. Why not Indian metropolises? Perhaps, Chennai is the worst of all cities. May be we developed from a agglomeration of villages. Likely we never was serious about planning.
The trend is to Grab the Land. A day will come when even the owner will sell the space above the ground (though legally the owner of the land is entitlerd to it)in undivided shares.
Should the real estate owners be so greedy? We need Real Estate Developers who can give much requires open public space in the cities. They may come at cost. But they must be there. Our problem in Chennai we are having too many small players and they get a fraction of the icing. Am I right?
hi sir frankly expected a very strong reply as i was bit caustic about your trade.
i always hold the view that government should spend more money on heritage, promoting traditions that are living by actively supporting the person who practice them.
ancient kings always promoted such activities. in fact many even waged wars for creating many splendours.
many splendours were created by master craftsmen because of loyalty or the sword was always rubbing his neck.
in present day of democracy and globalisation every thing is viewed in selfish manner leaving nothing for the posterity except unwanted toxic garbage.
on dsilva road where I stay and sps used to, the second house was a building dating 1910. green coloured building with a steeple type roof. belonged to bashyam iyengar - srinivasa iyengar family.
gandhiji stayed there for a few days when he visited the city.
I felt so bad when it was brought down and a leading builder built his own house there. but then I always tell myself, gandhi in such a long career must have stayed in a 1000 houses. cant preserve all of them can we?
Another thing I noticed in Chennai is the array of small road side shops along all main roads that create traffic congestions and parking problems...
Just compare the LB road with the Kotturpuram road ( which is compounded by the Birla Planaterium etc., and no roadside shops )...
Govt can prevent building up of roadside shops without sufficient parking space inside.
Alternatively, such small shop owners can merge and build big shopping malls with enough parking and navigation spaces - there by improving city outlook, revenue generation, increased ownership, utilization, more employment, less congestion and less pollution...
Intersting VK Delhi development is thinking of Emulating Jaipur in having shopping cum residential complexes.ie the frontage will be shops and the rear will be housing with parking facilities in the back I think its time we increased road tax and may be introduce congestion charges in busy areas
thanks for some reactions - emotional AV), professional (SPS)and aesthetic (SR, KV).
the moot point is should the old building with heritage value be sacrificed by their owners? Should commericial interest takie precedence over heritage value?
i may not be bothered if a private house (like de silva road example) be demoilsihed. Because, ina democartic set up with a secular constitution, the state representing the society can not interfere.
But if a structure played a role for a public purpose, where the members of the community used it so, including trade and commerce, then the socity has a right to intervene for its preservation for posterity.
Public halls, temples etc., are self explanatory.
How trade and commerce. Take the example of P.Orr and sons, the Mail building, the Hindu, of course the Indian Express estate, the Bharat Insurance building, the Agurchand Mansions, the YNCA building on NSC Bose Raod, they all need to be preserved as they represent and are very few examples of the hisotry of colonial period of our city. The owners owe their exisitence for over years due to the faith showed by the society in their trade. Therefore, they must preserve them.
An individuals has every right to destroy his own/his ancestors creations.
Let me come to the FSI problem. No doubt we have some limited FSI in Chennai. Outdated rules. The fundamental character of any urban society is that every individual is boud by strict rules when they come in public. They lose their individual identity, Their houses must be built according to the rules. Their architecture must conform to it. Their movement on road is restricted by traffic rules. They are not suppose to creat incovenience to others. Use of public space is boud by regulations. And there must be state (authoruty) mechanisms like corporations. police etc.,
But who cares for rules? Like the roadside shop owners. In chennai and even in Bangalore, I have seen many houses jutting into road by a feet from 1st floor onwards. Both individuals and promoters are at fault.
WHO CARES and WHO STOPS?
THIS IS WAHT I AM TRYING TO OPPOSE.
THE HARAPPAN CIVILISATION LIVED FOR OVER A MILLENIUM. RIGHT THROUGH THE HOUSES WERE DEMOLISHED AND REBUILT. YOU KNOW THEY NEVER ENCROACHED BY EVEN A SIGNLE INCH. THEIR DRAINAGE SYSTEM - BOTH CLOSED DRAINS AND SOAKPITS WORKED FOR ALL THE 1000 AND ODD YEARS.