BMC extends deadline for public suggestions to proposed heritage sites
With several public holidays slated over the next few days and a surge in public responses, the civic body has extended its deadline to accept recommendations for changes to the proposed heritage list to October 6.
With several public holidays slated over the next few days and a surge in public responses, the civic body has extended its deadline to accept recommendations for changes to the proposed heritage list to October 6.
According to civic officials, the last week witnessed a whirl of activity as several Mumbaiites came forward to submit their recommendations before the September 30 deadline.
On September 19, HT had reported about how the civic body had already received close to 1,000 responses from the public, recommending changes to the proposed list. Officials said the responses have now crossed the 1,000 mark, and submissions are continuing to pour in.
“Closer to the deadline, several people have woken up to make their opinions heard. We have got more than 1,000 responses and there are people still coming in,” said an official from the civic body’s development plan department. “Earlier, while extending the deadline to September 30, we had not taken into account the holidays for Anant Chaturthi and the following Sunday. As there is a surge in response, we did not want people to miss out on the opportunity to submit their recommendations.”
On July 31, the civic body had published its proposed heritage list online, inviting public recommendations to make changes to the list. While the initial deadline was fixed as August 31, public outcry led to the extension of this deadline to September 30.
“The media has created greater awareness about the proposed heritage list and its implications, so people have come forward to be a part of the process,” said V Ranganathan, chairperson, Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee.
After the deadline, the civic body will set up a review committee to verify the credibility of the responses. “After receiving all the suggestions and objections, we will conduct a public hearing and give a fair chance to the public to address their concerns,” said Sitaram Kunte, municipal commissioner.
"The committee will review the listings and visit the spots that have been suggested by the public. Only after the committee revisits the spot and submits its report will we send it to the state government," he added.