The Heritage Conservation Committee, established in 1983 under the leadership of the Additional Secretary, Ministry of Urban Affairs, was formed to uphold the clauses under Section 23 in Delhi Building Bye-Laws for the preservation of heritage buildings.
Here are some more crucial details about the Heritage Conservation Committee that can be beneficial for those preparing for the
IAS Exam
.
The HCC plays a governing role over buildings in Delhi and its surrounding regions. It categorizes heritage buildings into different grades for development and protective activities. However, permission from this committee is necessary before the local Government can proceed.
The committee provides 3 grades as follows:
Grade I:
Buildings under this grade should have historical significance or showcase exceptional architectural design, style, aesthetic, material usage, and technology. The HCC does not allow any changes to the exterior or interior of these buildings unless necessary for improvement or strengthening.
Grade II:
This category includes buildings of historical or architectural merit of local or regional importance. It may also include local landmarks that contribute to the area's identity and image. The HCC primarily permits internal changes and adaptive reuse.
Grade III:
This grade includes buildings of sociological or architectural interest. These buildings may contribute to the architectural aesthetics or define the characteristics of the locality. The committee allows both external and internal changes for such buildings.
Applicability of the Heritage Conservation Committee
The HCC has enforced laws and regulations on Unified Building Bye-Laws listed heritage sites, such as buildings, artefacts, structures, and areas of Delhi in 2016. The list, prepared by the Commissioner of Delhi Municipal Corporation or the Vice-Chairman of the Development Authority, includes 908 notified buildings.
The committee recently approved the final regulatory clearance for new parliament construction. Following this, the Supreme Court announced the HCC’s approval of this project.
These are some key points about the Heritage Conservation Committee that may be helpful for candidates preparing for various examinations.
For more information about upcoming
Government Exams
, visit the linked article. More exam-related preparation materials can be found through the links given below:
Who are the members of the Heritage Conservation committee?
Members of HCC include the committee head additional secretary in the Union Ministry for Housing and Urban Affairs. Apart from that, it consists of these below members- Central Public Works Department (CPWD), Archaeological Survey of India, Delhi Urban Arts Commission, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), New Delhi Municipal Committee (NDMC), Delhi Development Authority (DDA).
Who is the current chairman of the Heritage Conservation Committee?
The current chairperson of the Heritage Conservation Committee is Kamran Rizvi.