For someone with a heightened sense of aesthetics and cultural sensitivity, Pune is a haven with fine buildings of various styles - Maratha, Peshwa, British colonial, Parsi, quaint old city neighbourhoods and  beautiful details in workmanship.

But how long this crumbling heritage will last is a matter of grave concern with the Heritage Committee of Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) having just an advisory role and no infrastructure.

Talking about the function and powers of the committee, Intach Pune Convener and Heritage Committee member Sharvey Dhongde said, “The committee has a very limited role right now. We have no executive or legal powers and hence things happen without the approval of the committee. Now we are just like a permission department.”

Environmental activist and honorary secretary of Parisar Sujit Patwardhan has been a committee member since its inception about a decade ago.

He further said, “I have been critical of the working of the committee from its very start. When the members meet once a month we are just clearing building proposals from people wanting to demolish structures with a heritage value. The committee has never had an office space, a dedicated full time staff, funding for it to function effectively.”

According to PMC deputy chief engineer and member, Heritage Committee Shyam Dhavale, this body was formed after a state government directive made such a committee mandatory. The committee meets once a month at Vishrambaugwada and very soon a permanent office would be made there.

With no resources and an unclear mandate it is impossible for the Heritage Committee to contribute substantially to preserve the city’s legacies, the members feel.

 (To be continued)