Amid concerns that any new construction in the Capitol Complex may put its heritage status in jeopardy, the Chandigarh Heritage Conservation Committee would meet on November 27 to take final call on the issues related to security requirements in the Complex and proposed expansion plan of Punjab and Haryana High Court.

With the Capitol Complex being declared a World Heritage Site by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in the year 2016, the UT Administration has been in a tight spot to decide over the long pending demand of expansion of Punjab and Haryana High Court.

The Complex is an administrative hub of two states namely Punjab and Haryana and has iconic heritage buildings of Punjab and Haryana High Court, Haryana and Punjab Secretariat and Assembly, open hand monument among others.

Among various agendas to be taken up during the November 27 CHCC meeting included security concerns and expansion plan of HC, appointment of consultant for the restoration work of Capitol Complex and preparation of report to be submitted to the UNESCO regarding the conservation process of the world heritage site-Capitol Complex.

The CHCC was constituted in the year 2012 on the directions of Union Ministry of Home Affairs to supervise the architectural preservation plans in Chandigarh.

Notably, the issue related to the security and expansion of HC is being debated since a letter was sent by the Court to Chandigarh Administration directing it to construct atleast a seven feet concrete wall around the Court premises to ensure foolproof security. In an order dated October 25, 2019, the Registrar General of High Court had directed the Chief Engineer, Chandigarh to undertake the construction of a high security boundary wall with the concertina coil covering the entire boundary of the of the court premises, beyond the imaginary heritage boundary line within three weeks.

A subgroup of CHCC has already submitted its report in this regard, recommending chalking out an overall security plan for the entire Capitol Complex instead of the premises of HC only. It also suggested reinforcement of existing security measures including the existing 10-ft concrete wall and barbed wires at certain points besides installation of modern security equipments in HC.

The CHCC’s subgroup, which had visited the High Court premises earlier this month, has also expressed apprehensions over the revised proposal of construction of ground plus three-level building (G +3) under the expansion plan of the HC stating that it would have a negative visual impact.

In view of the increasing pressure on existing infrastructure and space requirements in HC, the sub group is of the view that the proposal for additional floors over the existing parking and the lawyers’ chamber building could be looked into but it will also have a negative visual impact.

The UT Administration has already sent a letter to the Court apprizing about the scope of new constructions in the HC premises. “The CHCC will meet on November 27 to decide on the issue of security requirements and expansion plan of High Court. The recommendations submitted by CHCC’s subgroup will be deliberated upon at the meeting,” said a senior officer of UT Administration while talking to The Pioneer.

The officer said that discussion will also be held on hiring a consultant to oversee the restoration work in Capitol Complex. As the UT Administration has to submit a report to the UNESCO regarding conservation efforts and plans in Complex, this would be another issue to be discussed at the meeting, the officer added.

In the dossier submitted before UNESCO in 2016 for the nomination of the world heritage status of the Capitol Complex, the Chandigarh Administration had submitted that it will not compromise on the original layout plan for expansion of the Punjab and Haryana High Court and the Secretariat buildings in the Capitol Complex.