Does Chandigarh need high rise buildings?

Sum evaluates the strong oppositon to vertical construction in Chandigarh ....

Strong opposition to Tata Housing’s proposed high rise residential project near Sukhna Lake reminds me of the yester year’s debate of whether girls be allowed to wear skirts (and miniskirts) in colleges. A lot of colleges went ahead and imposed a ban, some even banned jeans and other western outfits crediting themselves with moral high ground. But as we evolved as a society, these trivial issues became non issues. The question remains who decides moral high grounds and set standards for what is right for the society?

Chandigarh, no doubt earns its title of being “The City Beautiful”, and I applaud the high quality civil and social amenities that its citizens enjoy relative to any other city in India. Needless to say planning and administration played a big part so did the futuristic vision of the legendary Le Corbusier in making this a world class city.

Any threat to the heritage or original set up of Chandigarh is indeed a concern that needs to be addressed including projects and developments that come up in its vicinity and periphery. Evaluating objections to Tata ‘s Camelot from a relative standpoint, the concerns seem to be narrowing down to an issue “whether Chandigarh needs to grow vertically, particularly in light of its heritage status?”.

The biggest strength of Chandigarh is its planned development and architectural brilliance from a city’s layout perspective. The civic and social amenities and fast implementation of projects adds value to the physical infrastructure. But the success of a city is measured not only in terms of its physical infrastructure and service delivery mechanism but also in terms of it being able to self finances its expenditure and generates funds for its growth. Equal opportunities for growth, environment consciousness and safe and secure environment are other parameters on which a city can be rated.

Let’s take up the issue of equal opportunities first; every citizen has a right to self growth and development and move up the ladder of socio economic status. There is a strong linkage between who are opposing this project and what strata of the society they are representing. MLA’s sold their society land to a private builder who is going to build a high rise close to an affluent area with green and natural surroundings much to the dismay of high profile settlers of northern sectors of Chandigarh. They are commanding and setting up their base in these sectors and are not ready to share even the minutest of this privilege with the growing and upcoming middle class. A high rise approved as per the norms within the framework of all legal approvals will provide avenues and opportunities to middle class people to dream a home in the north of Chandigarh. Is it a sin to conceptualize and bring about a project that provides such opportunities?

Another issue which concerns me is that the way the investigation was carried out and how it is biased and shares concerns of only a certain section of the society. The six part investigation fails to recognize the views of the villagers who are likely to share neighborhood with this project, the views of builders and brokers were never aired, the views of middle and upper middle class were nowhere to be seen. Is Chandigarh and in particular the northern sectors only the prerogative of the rich and affluent section of the society?

The matter is already sub judice and forming a public opinion based on lop sided facts and views will influence the action and thought process of regulatory agencies and civil bodies. We need a planned but equitable growth of a city like Chandigarh and provide opportunities for all classes of people to dream and own a house in Chandigarh. The feudal settlers of Chandigarh are lobbying against this project to protect their monopoly over the priciest assets in Chandigarh and no leaf is unturned by the ill informed media in helping them in their cause. Chandigarh needs high rise and residential projects (particularly high rise) near water bodies and natural surroundings are not uncommon in all major and planned cities of the world. There is a tradeoff between beauty and equitable growth in this case; and the choice will depend on the level of hierarchy the person belongs to in the society.