Lok Sabha Question No. 3571 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-11
Subject: Heritage Conservation Committee in Chandigarh
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Shri Manish Tewari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO. 3571 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.08.2025

## HERITAGE CONSERVATION COMMITTEE IN CHANDIGARH

## 3571. SHRI MANISH TEWARI:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) the legal status of the Heritage Conservation Committee constituted for the Union  Territory  of  Chandigarh  and  the  specific  law  or  statutory  provision under which it was created;
- (b) whether the Union Territory Administration drew its authority to constitute the said Committee from any Central or State enactment and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the  details  of  the  rationale  and  legal  locus  of  continuing  with  a  Heritage Committee in Chandigarh, given that the Ministry of Culture, in response to a  parliamentary  question  dated  03.02.2025,  stated  that  Chandigarh  is  not recognised as a heritage city; and
- (d) the details of the key activities, initiatives, and outcomes of the Chandigarh Heritage Committee since its inception, particularly those having a city-wide impact on heritage preservation and architectural conservation?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

- (a) The Chandigarh Heritage Conservation Committee (CHCC) was constituted
- to by the Chandigarh Administration vide notification dated 20.4.2012 . CHCC
- (c) was  created  after  approval  of  the  Ministry  of  Home  Affairs  (MHA)  in response  to  the  report  of  the  Expert  Heritage  Committee  submitted  by Chandigarh Administration.

The  entire  city  of  Chandigarh  is  not  declared  as  heritage.  However,  the report  of  the  Expert  Heritage  Committee  recommended  Heritage  status  to phase 1 of the city, i.e., Sectors 1 to 30. A total of 13 Heritage Zones, and Heritage  buildings  have  been  identified  in  the  report,  graded  as  Heritage Grade I, II and III as per their historical and cultural significance and also their  unique  architectural  value.  The  mandate  of  the  CHCC  is  to  ensure proper conservation, preservation, restoration and maintenance of the enlisted heritage of the city.

The  legal  status  of  the  Chandigarh  Heritage  Conservation  Committee  was further strengthened by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in its judgement which provides for approval of the Heritage Committee for matters like redensification of any government residential/institutional pocket in Phase-l sectors,  re-utilization  of  the  identified  housing/institutional  pockets  in  the first  phase,  and  for  consulting  the  Heritage  Committee  for  issues  such  as formulation of rules or byelaws.

- (d) The CHCC has till date held 25 meetings since its constitution and disposed of various sensitive issues concerning development/re-development of various  projects  in  Sector  1  to  30.  Some  of  the  major  works  seen  by  the Heritage Committee include:
-  Finalizing  of  Trans  Border  Serial  Nomination  Dossier  for  Heritage status to Capitol Complex, Chandigarh inscribed as a World Heritage Site  in  August,  2016.  It  monitors  the  progress  of  the  management plan of the Capitol Complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
-  Various works of Punjab and Haryana High Court which forms part of the Capitol Complex, progress of which is being monitored by the Hon'ble Building Committee of the High Court.
-  Holistic  Planning  &  Revitalization  of  City  Centre,  Sec.  17  wherein construction  of  underpass  between  Sector  17  and  Rose  Garden, restoration  of  the  concrete  façades,  Integrated  Command  Control Centre and rejuvenation of the Central Plazza are being undertaken.
-  Various additions and alterations in Govt. houses in various Phase I sectors and evolving a uniform policy.
-  Master Plan of PGI and Punjab University.
-  Restoration  of  Le  Corbusier  Centre  (Old  Architects  Office),  Sector 19.
-  Indian Air Force Museum at Press Building, Sector 18.