Cessed buildings in heritage list may halt redevpt: Govt

STATE OPPOSES PLAN Mumbai: Fearing that the proposed heritage list may freeze development of thousands of cessed structures, the Maharashtra housing department has opposed it.      At a meeting on Tuesday, minister of state for housing Sachin Ahir along with principal secretary of the department Gautam Chatterjee took a decision to object inclusion of cessed buildings in the heritage list. The BMC has invited suggestions over the Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee's (MHCC) proposal to tag over 800-odd structures as heritage. September 30 is the last date to appeal against or for the proposed list.      "Besides sending objections in writing to the BMC, the housing department will write a letter to municipal commissioner urging the civic body to exclude BDD chawls and cessed buildings from the list," Ahir told TOI.      According to Mantralaya officials, there are over 16,000-odd cessed buildings in Mumbai, of which less than 10% have been redeveloped in the last decade. Cessed buildings are those which were constructed prior to 1969.      "If BDD chawls and cessed buildings are not allowed to go ahead with repair works, it would put hundreds of lives in danger. To provide better facilities to those living in these old dilapidated buildings, there is a need for either repair or redevelopment work. But inclusion of these buildings in the heritage list will bring development activities of these areas to a standstill," Ahir added.      MNS MLA Nitin Sardesai said there are several buildings that do not fall into cessed buildings category, but need urgent repairs.      "Government should have broader vision and exclude these old buildings from the list of the heritage structure," Sardesai added.  Rickety Structures C essed buildings are those which have been constructed prior to 1969. There are over 16,000-odd cessed buildings in the city. Of these, less than 10% have been redeveloped in the last decade.