Rajasthan government to allow commercialization of private heritage buildings and havelis

Jaipur: The Rajasthan government is planning to introduce a regulation that will allow the owners of nearly 10,000 private heritage buildings including traditional havelis to use them as guest houses, art galleries, museums, craft and culture centers, dance and music centers and restaurants. The regulation will also allow the owners to sell these buildings.

The local self-government department has prepared the draft of the Heritage Conservation and Protection Regulation and submitted it to the legal department for a review.

Nearly 10,000 heritage buildings in 40 cities of the state including Jaipur will come under the purview of this new regulation.

It will be mandatory for the owners to conserve the heritage structure and traditional features of the building. They can renovate the buildings, but will have to ensure that the heritage look is kept intact.

The owners will be offered a 25 percent discount in urban development tax for conservation and restoration.

Those found flouting the regulation can be sentenced up to a maximum of six months imprisonment and incur a fine of Rs 20000.

These heritage buildings and havelis will be notified. In order to run a particular activity, the owner will have to obtain permission from the local heritage cell.

A senior self-governance department officer said that the regulation will ensure conservation of the heritage buildings.

“Many of them are in shambles because the owners can’t afford to spend money on conservation and upkeep. By allowing the owners to use the buildings for commercial purposes, we want to give them a reason to protect the heritage,” said the officer.