Activists seek changes in heritage committee

Kolhapur: Activists from the city have written to chief minister Uddhav Thackeray requesting him to constitute the city heritage committee with the members who are eligible to do the tasks needed to be performed and not cause obstructions in the heritage-related activities.
In the letter written to Thackeray, the activists said some members of the committee have been part of it for the last 17 years and have not been replaced since.The activists allege that the heritage panel has obstructed redevelopment work of the heritage structures
Ramesh More, an activist said, “The funds sanctioned to redevelop the heritage buildings and structures have been withdrawn by the state and central government due to unnecessary obstructions. The committee causes roadblocks in the development work. Several suggestions made by independent experts to conserve the heritage buildings fell on deaf ears. Not a single conservation project has been initiated in the last five years. Some of the members have been nominated only because they are the favourites of the political leaders and officials. We want that the state government follows the guidelines fixed by the central government to appoint members to the city heritage committee.”