The Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee has, however, sought the help of the Urban Development Department to clarify whether the entire market area or only the clock tower and fountain structures are Grade I heritage structures. If the department clarifies that the entire market area, measuring 72,000 sq yard, is a heritage zone, then it would mean that the controversial re-development plan, involving a multi-storey market, will lie in cold storage.

The decision to seek the government’s view was taken at the Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee meeting on Thursday. “While we are convinced that the entire Mahatma Jyotiba Phule market falls in Grade I heritage, there is still scope for dispute,” a member said.

The previous committee had said that the whole market area is a heritage space, but municipal commissioner Jairaj Phatak has stated that only the clock tower and the fountain are protected as heritage structures. “The Development Plan sheets available with the BMC has marked the entire market area as heritage, but the commissioner is of a different view. There are doubts regarding which part is heritage and which is not. Hence it was decided to take the opinion of the state government,” said committee chairperson Dinesh Afzalpurkar.

Earlier, Newsline had reported that the civic administration, after permitting the re-development of the market with 4 FSI through private developers, now wanted to restore the market premises. The re-development plan, which envisaged multi-storeyed buildings next to the heritage structure, was strongly opposed by citizens and heritage activists.

The restoration, strengthening and beautification of the market — now called Mahatma Jyotiba Phule market — by conservation architect Abha Narain Lambah was tabled with the heritage committee last year. The plan, pegged at Rs 28 crore, seeks to restore the heritage market to its original glory.

Afzalpurkar said the committee will be giving its nod to the restoration plan by Lambah once the doubts are cleared. “The approval will come through soon,” he said.