Kerala - Kochi   

Vandalising Fort Kochi

John L.Paul

By changing the face of buildings, people who want to make instant profit are vandalising the culture and heritage of the place.

KOCHI: Heritage buildings in Fort Kochi are either being mercilessly pulled down or redone, in gross violation of heritage norms.

This is done under the guise of renovation. The modus operandi is simple: cover the structure on the sides using huge pieces of cloth or aluminium sheets. Then, make structural and other changes, and you have an entirely transformed modern structure in place, within a few months. The building bears no resemblance to the old one.

Architectural marvel

Fort Kochi has a congruence of Portuguese, Dutch, Jewish and English architecture. Many over-a-century-old structures have been deprived of their traditional charm after being taken over by business groups and non-resident Indians and converted into hotels, emporiums and so on.

Under norms that apply in the Fort Kochi heritage zone, buildings have been assigned a colour code. The walls have to be either white or of the colour of egg yolk.

Flouting norms

Specific norms bind the shape and colour of windows, sunshades, brackets (the wooden pieces that align the sunshade with the wall), landscaping and so on. But many structures in the area have been painted in flashy violet and pink.

An allegation is rife that the Fort Kochi Heritage Development Society and city Corporation are doing precious little to enforce heritage norms in one of the most-popular tourist locales in the country.

An office-bearer of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage says that commercial vulgarity rules the roost in Fort Kochi. By changing the face of buildings, people who want to make instant profit are vandalising the culture and heritage of the place.

Under the law, a new building plan and permission of the Corporation are a must to demolish or renovate buildings. The plan has to be approved by the Art and Heritage Commission. But this is seldom done.

Modern concrete structures are fast replacing old buildings, even in the Mattancherry heritage zone.

"Concrete buildings are replacing old ones near the famous Parade Ground," says Austin Paul, president of the International Forum for Cultural Heritage and Tradition.

Losing character

"Many heritage buildings on Princess Street are being mercilessly pulled down, unmindful of the fact that sans them, Fort Kochi will desist from being a tourist locale. Tourists flock to the place to take a walk through the silent streets dotted by heritage structures."

Famous buildings such as the erstwhile wedding hall of Jews have been taken over by business groups. Iron shutters and modern glass windows have replaced the frontage of many heritage structures.

A few years ago, an expert appointed by the Government had suggested installing soft lighting in the heritage zone. But little has been done.

Despite the onset of tourist season, gaping potholes on Princess Street, Burgher Street, Rose Street and Tower Road have not been filled.

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