Old is gold: Crumbling heritage structures may finally stand tall

Says Shyam Dhavalaey, deputy city engineer, “Our department is holding discussions with Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), Sinhagad College, Cummins Architecture College and private owners of heritage properties to raise a corpus for the restoration of heritage structures in the city. Rs one crore has been earmarked in the financial budget for our department this year. Considering the amount of work to be done, this is not adequate.”

The wadas in peths to the old bungalows of Bhandarkar Road and the colonial style buildings in camp area are slowly making way for the new glass and steel structures. Says historian Ninad Bedekar, “The culture of Pune will disappear and will remain only in the museums. Many people today ask: why do we need to preserve historical structures? I say that when one goes to the doctor, he needs to examine our medical history. Likewise, our old structures tell us the story of how we have developed over the years. With the old colonial and Peshwa style bungalows and structures of yore making way for new buildings, we will lose these invaluable edifices of history. People should love their city and its architecture and make an effort to preserve it, but sadly this attitude is missing in Pune and not many people think about the city.”

Dilip Borawake is a city-based businessman, social figure and among the few people of Pune who is keen on holding on to their old bungalows. Dilip, whose bungalow was built in 1935 says, “Old is gold, the old structures and the new should exist together. I have been to Australia and London and have seen that old structures are maintained so well that they look as good as new, I am of the view that old structures should be maintained in a way that keep them functional.”

Dhavalaey, also a member of Heritage Committee — the agency which earmarks heritage properties in the city — says, “Earlier land was available in plenty. So the residences used to be spacious, but as the city grow, old structures are being felled. For example, structures built during the Peshwe era have three feet broad walls. But due to tremendous urbanisation now, space saving techniques of construction are used. But, the Heritage Committee has earmarked heritage properties that are of prime importance. These include buildings and monuments like Mahatma Pule Mandai, Shaniwarwada and other structures built during the times of British and Peshwas.”