HC restrains demolition of heritage structures at pvt mills

Mumbai, Mar 28 (UNI) The Bombay High Court today restrained the demolition of 22 heritage structures situated in the fifteen private mill lands and a state sector mill here.

A division bench, comprising justices H L Gokhale and R S Dongaonkar, issued directives to the owners of private mills following a petition filed by the Indian National Trust for Art and Heritage Culture to protect the heritage structures in mills owned by National Textile Corporation as well as privately owned ones.

The court has also directed the private mill owners to file their affidavit till April 18 indicating the number of heritage structures in their mills and the steps taken to protect them.

Responding to the petition, I S P Upasani, Chairman of Maharashtra Heritage Conservation Committee, today filed a report stating that 22 structures have been identified as heritage structures, mainly chimneys and water bodies. She also submitted a list of 16 mills where no heritage structure could be identified.

The affidavit also stated that as the court had granted an ad-interim order with respect to 77 heritage structures on NTC mill land, similar protection be granted in the private mills as well.

The private mills listed for having heritage structures include Century Mills, Phoenix Mills, Mafatlal Mills, Khatau Mills, Shreeram Mills and others.

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