Conflicts over laws shoudn't hit heritage'

MYSORE: Conservation of heritage properties would be difficult unless conflicts between building bylaws and heritage conservation rules are not resolved, said Institute of Town Planners India chief D S Meshram.
Quoting some incidents following such conflicts, Meshram said there is a need for holistic approach towards protecting heritage sites. At the inauguration of the south zone conference on metropolitan governance, heritage conservation, natural areas and education here on Saturday, he said the differences should be solved to facilitate better conservation.He further said, “There is a need to discuss whether the old sites should be preserved or they should make room for development.”
Presently, 28% of India's population lives in urban areas and the figure is expected to cross 50% by 2051. Also, the number of metropolitan cities will rise to 75 by then. This will create a shortage of infrastructure and widen the supply and demand gap in job market.
As urban development plans are aimed at people, it is essential to reverse the process by consulting them at the initial stages rather than consulting masses at the end of the procedure, Meshram advised.
University of Mysore V-C V G Talawar regretted that experts are not being consulted on most of the development works in urban parts. Of late, it is engineers who design layouts and hence projects lack vision.