Bombay HC: Esplanade Mansion’s sad story eye-opener, save heritage bldgs – Times of India

Mumbai: The Bombay high court recently observed that the “sad story” of the heritage Esplanade Mansion is an “eye-opener and an impetus” for the authorities to device an effective mechanism to protect and restore heritage structures.
“We have good laws to protect ancient monuments but the implementation…to protect them and the heritage buildings is certainly not adequate and, in fact, dismal. Such buildings and monuments are neglected and not maintained,” said a bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Girish Kulkarni in a detailed order disposing a plea by Esplanade Mansion owner Saiq Ali.
“We feel deeply concerned as to whether the state, Mhada and BMC should not work out an effective, robust scheme to preserve heritage buildings in the city,” the bench said.
The HC on July 3 had suspended the demolition notices issued by the state’s housing body Mhada (Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority) which has possession of the building till a proposal on its reconstruction submitted by the owner is considered and decided by the BMC heritage committee and later the civic body.
The order, made available on Saturday, said, “There can be no two opinions that there are a large number of such beautiful buildings not only in the Fort area constructed during the British times, privately owned and occupied, but also elsewhere in the city. Such buildings at all times have added to the glory and fame of this beautiful city.”
The judges mentioned how world over there are much older buildings like the Westminster Abbey in London constructed centuries ago which “have been preserved and have maintained the glory of such cities”.
The HC order traced the history of Esplanade Mansion, once an elegant Watson’s Hotel in its unique cast-iron framed British construction of 1860-1863. It was designed by civil engineer Rowland Ordish who was associated with the construction of St Pancras station in London. “A saga of a heritage building situated between the University of Mumbai and the Bombay city civil and sessions court in the Fort area, not more than about 400 metres from the Bombay high court…has reached this court,” said the judges in the order.
The hotel shut after 1920 and after 1960 building ownership changed hands and HC was told Ali purchased it by a deed of conveyance dated March 9, 1979, from Tata Sons Ltd.
In 2006, it was listed as one of the 100 most endangered sites.
Ali’s advocate Cherag Balsara submitted Rs 20 crore out of Rs 50 crore for reconstruction has been kept in a bank. BMC counsel Anil Sakhare said the heritage committee would study the proposal and the HC said if such permission is granted, further approvals can be sought from Mhada and BMC. The order said the state needs a “positive approach’’ to maintain heritage buildings “as it is impossible to construct such structures in the contemporary times”.