Humayun's Tomb model for heritage rules

NEW DELHI: Twenty-eight centrally-protected monuments in Humayun's Tomb world heritage site and the crowded Nizamuddin area could serve as case studies for framing heritage bylaws nationwide.
Struggling with the task of making bylaws for all 3,600-plus ASI-protected monuments, National Monuments Authority has turned to organizations which are already well-versed in heritage of specific areas. Aga Khan Trust for Culture has been approached regarding all protected buildings in Nizamuddin area.
NMA chairperson Himanshu Prabha Ray told TOI, "We are in talks with AKTC. They would have the best expertise for monuments in Nizamuddin as they have been working here for years."
AKTC has been working in partnership with ASI, CPWD and South Delhi Municipal Corporation on Nizamuddin Urban Renewal Initiative. During its seven-year engagement, AKTC has developed a significant understanding of the Humayun's Tomb sub-circle that comprises 28 monuments and is also a DDA master plan-designated conservation area.
"The 28 monuments fall in three categories?Humayun's Tomb complex, heritage zone and living monuments in Sunder Nursery and Nizamuddin basti. The first is the most important," explained an official.
AKTC was notified an expert heritage body earlier this year, along with SPA and Reach Foundation, Chennai.
Planning by AKTC started several months ago. The first step comprises detailed archival research required to precisely define the limits of protected area of each monument not mapped by ASI.
Senior officials said the aim has been to work within the framework of the Act that prohibits construction within a 100m radius of the monument but to emphasize on parameters such as visual linkages, physical access and preparing urban design guidelines that will allow residents to benefit from living within a heritage zone rather than be penalized for it. The biggest hurdle lies in the illegal constructions rampantly coming up within the 100m prohibited zone in all monuments not only destroying the heritage character and aesthetic appeal of the site but also posing a threat to human safety. Put together in haste, these ramshackle structures are highly unsafe although some of the ones in Nizamuddin go up to seven storeys.
"AKTC is discussing limiting the area of prohibited zones wherever this does not impact the monument and extending these towards the east of Humayun's Tomb where historic visual linkages with the river were a significant reason for locating these Mughal-era monuments here," said an NMA official.
NMA has requested AKTC to prepare 3D models to study the impact of potential permissible construction in the heritage zone. Permissions are already being sought by AKTC to carry out much-needed housing improvements in the densely built-up Hazrat Nizamuddin Basti.
AKTC is also outlining potential incentives for residents. "The objective is two-fold?retaining the heritage character and improving the quality of life for residents rather than penalizing them," . It is hoped that an outcome of the exercise is to put in place mechanisms by which communities living within 100m are incentivized rather than penalized and begin to understand the cultural value of the place they reside in,"said Shveta Mathur, AKTC senior programme officer. "One of the biggest outcomes of this exercise will be an understanding of the area of the prohibited zone," she added. In case of the Kot Mohalla in Hazrat Nizamuddin Basti, all of Nizamuddin West and most of Nizamuddin East is outside the currently-defined 100m zone. And, the extent of renovations to built housing within the zone will depend on impact to the monuments," she said. In regulated zones, many of the existing building bylaws will remain applicable though NMA is of the opinion that basements should be restricted.