The Chandigarh Administration will seek the assistance of French experts in preserving and protecting its 12,000 heritage items, which could fetch millions of dollars if sold abroad. In this regard, it will be decided whether Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags must be installed in the items or if another technology must be used.
Legal framework is required to preserve and protect the city’s heritage
The issue was thoroughly discussed at the meeting of the Chandigarh Conservation Heritage Committee (CHCC), which convened on 26 april after a long hiatus. The meeting was called for a routine agenda, but the preservation of heritage furniture and items designed by Le Corbusier was a major topic of discussion. The officials debated whether a legal framework was required to preserve and protect the city’s heritage. The CHCC is made up of key officials such as the home secretary, chief architect, and chief engineers of the UT Administration and Chandigarh Municipal Corporation. The UT administrator appoints the CHCC, which is led by the UT adviser.
“I was informed that an inventory was prepared for all heritage items, and there are approximately 12,000 such items, including chairs, heritage manhole covers, and so on,” UT Adviser Dharam Pal said.
Technologically protecting the items
“Since the French experts are coming on May 14-15, we will seek their assistance and have a detailed discussion on the issue,” he added. We will ask them to assist us technologically in protecting the items because they are well aware of the issues that are arising. Now, whether it is the installation of RFID tags in the items or any other technological assistance, we will ask them the same question.”
Initially, the meeting began with a presentation on heritage issues in Chandigarh by Director Culture Saurabh Arora. When the committee met in 2017, they discussed preserving the manhole covers as well.
Because officials were concerned about theft-prone Corbusier-designed manhole covers in the city and the auction of UT’s heritage items abroad, the CHCC even suggested that a proper inventory be prepared for these and that GPS tracking chips be installed.