Chandigarh, May 31
When the Punjab and Haryana High Court takes up a PIL on the issue of “world heritage city” standing for Chandigarh on September 1, the UT administration will inform the Bench whether the city’s chances of getting the status are being marred by Tata Camelot and other projects in the periphery.

Bringing the Tata project once again under the High Court scanner, petitioner in the case Ajay Jagga claimed: “Another aspect that in fact completely destroys and seriously affects the chances of Chandigarh to be conferred the ‘world heritage’ status is the constant degradation of the periphery of Chandigarh by private builders.”

Quoting an example, Jagga asserted: “One such instance was the building of multi-storied tower by Tata Housing Corporation just next to the Sukhna Lake…. There are no building height restrictions and the projects are in complete violation of the Punjab Periphery Control Act of 1952.”

In an application placed before the Bench of Acting Chief Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel and Justice AK Mittal, Jagga also sought directions to the Union of India and other respondents to restrain the development of housing projects being carried out by private builders in the city’s periphery, as these were “seriously affecting the heritage status of Chandigarh”.

After the application was taken on record, senior standing counsel for Chandigarh administration Sanjay Kaushal sought time to file reply, following which the case was adjourned to September 1.

In his petition, Jagga has sought directions to the administration to pursue an application filed on October 23, 2006, with UNESCO and also prepare and submit requisite information demanded by the body in compliance with “operational guidelines for implementation of the World Heritage Convention” required for conferring the status.

His counsel has submitted that the Chandigarh administration be asked to preserve the heritage property of Chandigarh in terms of its original form and design material.

An inventory of antique furniture, artifacts, tapestry and other material collected by the administration from various heritage buildings be prepared and steps be initiated for their preservation, he has demanded.

“During the pendency of the petition, all repairs in Le Corbusier’s creations be taken up, keeping in view the mandatory undertaking of UNESCO, which will help in getting the World Heritage City status, enhance international tourism and ensure protection of these creations for all times to come,” the petition reads.