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Mumbai: Residents oppose "World Heritage Site" proposal for Marine Drive

Mumbai: Residents oppose "World Heritage Site" proposal for Marine Drive

Sep 07, 2017
01:25 pm

What's the story

Mumbai's Marine Drive "Heritage" precinct has been nominated by the government to the UNESCO World Heritage Site list. A UNESCO team would reportedly visit Mumbai this week and compile a report on Marine Drive precinct's nomination. However, residents are opposing the move saying neither the government nor the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation consulted them before proposing the tag for Marine Drive. Find out why!

Marine Drive Residents

Marine Drive's fate being decided without consulting primary stakeholders

Authorities are deciding the fate of Marine Drive's 37 buildings without consulting residents, the primary stakeholders. Residents questioned the premise for the nomination saying most of the old buildings came up only in 1940-50s. Declaring the area a World Heritage Site would affect development, and redevelopment of buildings in poor condition. Many buildings are in "dire need" of redevelopment, as they aren't even earthquake-resistant.

Quote

There's nothing "heritage" in Marine Drive: Colaba MLA Raj Purohit

Purohit said: "When residents in the suburbs get higher FSI (floor-space-index) and are allowed to redevelop, then why should residents of Marine Drive suffer? I am ready to sit with the authorities along with the residents and have a meeting to sort out this problem."