Hyderabad :

Set to be razed to the ground by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) to make way for a modern structure only a few years ago, the ancient fish market in Begum Bazaar is now all set to get a new lease of life. And restoring it back to its past glory is city-based conservation architect Anuradha S Naik, who drew up an assessment report in 2011 on the market that was built by the erstwhile City Improvement Board (CIB) in the 1930s.

“This market is largely run by third generation vendors. After I submitted my analytical report, the GHMC stalled its plans of pulling it down,” the Edinburgh University-educated architect said. Highlighting the “beautiful synchronization of spaces” that the “triangular shaped” market, with courtyards in the middle, showcases, she asserted: “Yes, it needs a lot of repairs, but it definitely can be restored.” The project is being undertaken by the GHMC.

This apart, Naik has a bunch of other exciting projects in her kitty too, and implementing a heritage management plan in the town of Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh is one among them. As a representative of the Indian Heritage Cities Network (IHCN), which was recently appointed by the central government to implement its HRIDAY scheme in the heritage town, Naik, along with her team, will develop some of Amaravati’s distinct heritage sites, create a city museum and enhance the infrastructure in the area to facilitate better tourist inflow.

HRIDAY — the Heritage Development and Augmentation Yojana was launched by the Union ministry of urban development earlier this year with the objective to “preserve and rejuvenate the rich cultural heritage of the country”. The 12 cities selected under this scheme are Varanasi, Amritsar, Warangal, Ajmer, Gaya, Mathura, Kanchipuram, Vellankanni, Badami, Dwaraka, Puri and Amaravati.

“We are collaborating with the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) for this project that has just taken off. It is a two-year programme for which we have been sanctioned a fund of Rs 22.3 crore,” Naik said.

“We will also be working closely with the government of AP as it has already done some work in terms of identifying the heritage sites. It is definitely going to be a very interesting project as it is very close to the new capital of the state. We will have to adopt a multi-layered approach so as to ensure that the heritage development project seamlessly merges with the master plan of the area,” she added.

Another ongoing project that Naik fondly talks about is the Domakonda Fort in Nizamabad. She was appointed consultant for the restoration of this approximately 300-year-old structure in 2011 by the Kamineni family to whom this ancient fort belongs.

“Along with using locally available material so as to reduce energy consumption, my focus has also been on creating jobs for locals. The restoration is being done in a very sustainable manner, courtesy the encouragement that came from my client,” Naik shared, stressing the need for focus on ‘environment conscious’ ways of restoration. “In fact, restoration, if carried out properly, drastically reduces energy consumption. Therefore, focus on repairs is the way forward. It is no longer an option but a necessity,” she reiterated.

GRAPHIC

Ongoing projects

* Begum Bazaar fish market: Built by erstwhile City Improvement Board (CIB) in the 1930s, the triangle-shaped market, with a courtyard in the middle, is run by third generation vendors

* Amaravati: As representative of the Indian Heritage Cities Network (IHCN), Naik will develop the Buddhist town’s heritage sites, create a city museum and enhance infrastructure, all in keeping with the new AP capital’s master plan

* Domakonda Fort, Nizamabad: Naik is a consultant for restoration of the nearly 300-year-old fort which belongs to the Kamineni family

QUOTE

We are collaborating with the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) for this project that has just taken off. It is a two-year programme for which we have been sanctioned a fund of Rs 22.3 crore Anuradha S Naik, conservation architect

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Hyderabad / TNN / June 14th, 2015