The viewing gallery that is being erected on one side of the Futala lake will surely mar the view of the lake from the road violating conservation of heritage bye-laws. According to experts, there is no such evidence in the world where such kind of construction is being done that blocks the view of Grade-I heritage structure. Surprisingly, Heritage Conservation Committee has given it a green signal. Before the viewing gallery project came, there used to be some eating joints erected by Nagpur Improvement Trust which were much behind the road.

 

They did not block the view of lake. Those were running well and had provided a good number of employment. One fine morning the owners of these joints got the notice and civic body demolished these eateries and it was told that in place of joints the viewing gallery would come. Shockingly, everybody came to know later that the viewing gallery was not coming in their place. It is being erected just close to lake. Right now, if one takes a round of the Futala lake one can’t get the glimpse of beauty of Futala or Telangkhedi lake. Now, people have to park their vehicles, go inside the gallery even to have a glimpse of the lake. Many people who used to go by the road near this lake just to see its beauty will now miss the sight. When one comes from Vayusena Nagar, one could see the vehicles coming from the Amravati Road commuting road near Futala. Now, that too will become invisible.

 

 

This construction has violated not only the regulations come under Heritage bye-laws but those come under Unified Development Control and Promotion Regulations (UDCPR) too. In fact, it was ‘The Hitavada’ through ‘Footloose’ had warned authorities not to go with their plan of constructing viewing gallery near Futala lake. But nobody listened. Anu Kale Chhabrani, President of Swachh Nagpur told ‘The Hitavada’, “The viewing gallery is at all not necessary. It is only the beautification that is not going to help the lake to rejuvenate. The lake needs desilting, structural audit and through it rejuvenation. Such huge structures plus authorities have planned Fountain also in it, would kill the lake.” Clause 11 E of Heritage regulations says, ‘In case of Grade I heritage site, any development shall not reduce the grandeur of that structure and shall not block the view of structure from anywhere.

 

Importance of that structure should not be reduced.’ Section 16-D of Model bye-laws for conservation of heritage sites says, ‘All development in areas surrounding Heritage Grade-I shall be regulated and controlled, ensuring that it does not mar the grandeur of, or view from Heritage Grade-I. Lakes come under Grade-I Heritage. Same bye-laws further says, ‘Buildings within a heritage precinct or in the vicinity of heritage sites shall maintain the skyline and follow the architectural style (without any high-rise or multi-storeyed development) as may be existing in the surrounding area, so as not to diminish or destroy the value and beauty of or the view from the said heritage sites. Not only this, the new Unified Development Control and Promotion Regulations (UDCPR) too has clearly mentioned it. Regulation 14.5.6 (Maintaining Skyline) of UDCPR says, ‘Building included in heritage precinct shall maintain the skyline, roof profile, built form edges, and respect the architectural style (without any high-rise development) as may be existing in the surrounding area, so as not to diminish or destroy the value and beauty of the said heritage building/ heritage precinct.’ The 14.5.8 (B) maintains ‘Heritage Grade-I richly deserves careful preservation.

 

(C) of 14.5.8 clearly warns, ‘No interventions be permitted either on exterior or interior unless it is necessary in the interest of strengthening and prolonging the life of the buildings or precincts or any part of features thereof. For this purpose absolutely essential and minimum changes would be allowed and they must be in accordance with the original.’ In C, it clearly says, “No interventions be permitted either on exterior or interior unless it is necessary in the interest of strengthening and prolonging the life of the buildings or precincts”. It means the construction, if done, it should be to strengthen the heritage structure, here lake. Any wise person can tell the viewing gallery is not going to strengthen the Futala lake, which is among three or four lakes in city that are alive. All lakes in city have already killed by such ‘over-ambitious infrastructural developments’ or some are on the verge of dying. Further E (Vistas/ surrounding development) again of 14.5.8 of UDCPR says, ‘All developments in areas surrounding Heritage Grade-I shall be regulated and controlled by ensuring that it does not mark the grandeur of or view from Heritage Grade-I’ What purpose is going to be served by doing such haphazard construction is a million dollar question and only authority probably knows its answer.