PROCEEDINGS OF
THE WORKSHOP
on
A CONSERVATION PLAN FOR BHIMILI
Organised by
THE ROYAL NETHERLANDS EMBASSY
on 29th & 30th March 2002 at
Visakhapatnam, A.P.
Initiated & Co-ordinated by Kiran Keswani architect
CONTENTS
Chapter 1 : Executive Summary
Chapter 2 : Pre-workshop planning inputs
Chapter 3 : Programme
Chapter 4 : Minutes of the meeting
Chapter 5 : Plan of Action
Chapter 6 : Defining roles for future action
Annexures
1 Inventory of Historic Buildings
(From a study conducted by INTACH in 1995. Reviewer : Mr.Sajjad Shahid)
2 Maps from ‘Tourism development & Conservation Plan’
– a report by Mr. S.P. Shorey, Planning Officer, HUDA
3 History of the town
4 Vizag – Kolkata connection
Paper submitted by Robert-jan Baken on Tour operation in Visakhapatnam and A.P.
5 Activities of the organisation VIKASA
6 Reports, Publications and Documents that have relevance to Bheemunipatnam’s Conservation endeavour
7 An extract of the relevant provisions of the A.P. Municipalities Act 8 List of Participant addresses
1
Executive Summary
The objective of the workshop was to create a platform for preparing a Conservation Plan for Bhimili. It brought together representatives of the local Administrative authorities i.e VUDA (Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority) and BMC (Bheemunipatnam Municipal Corporation), the A.P. Tourism department, Conservation experts, NGO’s working in Bhimili and the residents of Bhimili to review the development of Bhimili.
The workshop was initiated and supported by the Netherlands Embassy whose aim is to work towards Conservation, Restoration and Tourism for the revival of Dutch and Indian heritage in Bhimili.
The focus has been on participatory planning and the approach has been to develop a plan based on the needs of the people of Bhimili and one that grows out of inputs from residents, tourists, planners, citizens of Vizag, administrative bodies, conservationists, historians and tourism consultants.
Ms. Banashree Banerjee, Consultant in Participatory Planning acted as a facilitator before and during the workshop. The programme for the 2-day workshop was prepared with her inputs and direction. Subsequently, intensive interaction with NGO’s, residents of Bhimili and the local administrative authorities over a month long period created an understanding amongst the local participants for the need for such a workshop and the expected results. The Vice-Chairman, VUDA, Mr.S.G.K. Kishore presented the work being done by the Urban Development Authority in tourism-related projects and towards the preparation of the Master Plan. He described the recent renovation work of the Clock tower in Bhimili. He pointed out that in Bhimili, at present, land value is seen as more important than heritage. The development of basic services was considered important and private sector participation would be encouraged.
The Municipal Chairman, Mr.Shailendra Reddy informed the workshop that the municipal council had passed a resolution to buy back old buildings through MP grants and public contributions for reconstruction work. He emphasised that fishermen now living in slums are the original residents of Bhimili. It was necessary to review land procedures to enable acquisition of lands that had heritage buildings facing negligence.
Mr. Ashis Banarjee presented the Conservation of the historic city of Ahmedabad. The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has its heritage cell and they work with the citizens of the walled city of Ahmedabad. In this project, for the first time, a loan package for the owners of heritage buildings has been created as a result of the collaboration between AMC, HUDCO and the Govt. of France.
Mr. S.P. Shorey, in 1980, prepared the first report on ‘Tourism development & Conservation Plan for Bheemunipatnam’ (Annexure 2) At the workshop, he discussed the packages that were needed to develop Bhimili – Infrastructure, Notifications & Regulations, Traffic management, Architectural guidelines, Encouraging residents’ pride in Bhimili, and the
Municipality as prime-mover. Buildings had survived in the past, also in the absence of regulations and government initiatives. He explained that today, regulations could act as a catalyst. Regulation could allow you not to demolish. They would ensure a dialogue between owner and Municipality before a building is pulled down. Regulations may also relax other requirements like land use and building controls in the interest of conservation.
Mr. Manish Chakraborti expressed the need for a vision plan for Bhimili, the mapping of heritage buildings and precincts, the illumination of ruins, identifying private houses for guest accommodation, celebrating through festivals the process of revival of Bhimili and preparing landscape plans for historic precincts.
Mr. BalaSubramanyam, representing the residents of Bhimili talked about the concerns of the local people and the need to gradually win their confidence for tourism and conservation interventions in the town. Some of the issues wanting immediate attention in Bhimili were rain-water harvesting, schools and public transport.
Mr. Vishwanadh, VIKASA, an NGO working in Bhimili presented their work. Dr. Prabhakar & Ms.Jyothi, Green Vision offered to contribute their time and effort to future development activity in Bhimili. Sadguru Sivananda Murty expressed his views on the development of Bhimili.
Prof. G.S. Rao explained the Tourism initiatives of the State govt. for the entire Visakha region. Mr. Arunachalam, Chief Urban Planner, VUDA and Prof. Thakur, Consulting Engineering Services explained the Master Plan under preparation for the Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region that will include also Bheemunipatnam. CES expressed the possibility of sharing the earlier master plan with the residents of Bhimili and incorporating their requirements, using questionnaires, for the next master plan.
Group discussions were held to elicit views of the participants on various issues. It was felt that the strategy for Bhimili needed to be in consonance with the scale of the settlement. Its smallness and tranquillity were to be respected and utilised to benefit tourism and conservation. Heritage is what people think it is. It is not something abstract. People’s concerns were to be understood and addressed. Small initiatives would bring results. It could be a ‘One street a week’ approach. It ought to be made mandatory to obtain ‘Permission to demolish’ just as it was to have ‘Permission to demolish’.
Dr. Aarsse affirmed that the recommendations to be acted upon immediately are : Architecture :
Forming the Bhimili Heritage Cell
Reconstruction of the circular tower of the “Governor’s Bungalow” to rebuild the image of Bhimili as a heritage town
Social aspects :
Restoration of the old tank & well which is connected to two issues – water management & heritage conservation.
Mr. Sunil Sharma, District Collector felt that the Development of infrastructure facilities and Preservation of Dutch culture were inter-dependent and needed to be simultaneously worked upon. Local people would understand Conservation only if they saw economic benefits to it and this could be done by utilising their services as guides and so on. Bhimili could only be a part of a tourism circuit and therefore it was important to have an integrated plan.
Circular tower of Governor’s Bungalow complex (Pic : Mr.S.P. Shorey, 1990)
Ms. Chandana Khan, Secretary, Department of Tourism, Andhra Pradesh concluded at the end of the workshop that Bhimili to be revived as a Dutch Heritage town and the revival to be based on Sustainable tourism development, Ecofriendliness and concerns of the local authorities. A long-term plan and a short-term plan would be made for Bhimili. The Master plan being developed by VUDA to have all the micro-details. A series of interactions are required with the local people and transparency to be maintained by discussing the master plan with them. RTC buses going to Vizianagaram need to pass through Bhimili. In the Action Conservation plan 2002, at least 2-3 buildings to be conserved. The circular tower would be a unique selling point and to be part of the short-term plan. Signages for Bhimili could be designed by NID. She requested the District Collector to pay as much attention to Bhimili as to Visakhapatnam. Ms.Khan emphasised that heritage buildings are being demolished in Bhimili and there is no time to lose. Implementation is really the task.
2
Pre-workshop planning inputs
The planning of the workshop began with the question :
What do we want to do in Bhimili or for Bhimili and why?
The Royal Netherlands Embassy
The town of Bheemunipatnam being once a dutch settlement, the Netherlands Embassy was willing to be part of an initiative by the Andhra Pradesh government and non-governmental organisations for the development of Bheemunipatnam with a view to restore and preserve the cultural heritage of the town.
Dr. Robert Aarsse, Head, Dept. of Press & Culture visited Bhimili on 30th September 2002 to study the existing conditions in Bhimili. During this visit, Dr. Aarsse saw the dutch cemetery at Kumarapalem, the Flag Staff cemetery on Beach road, the Ocean View guest house, the Municipal office and the Port office. He met with the Municipal Chairman, Mr. Shailendra Reddy; the then Municipal Commissioner, Mr.Seetharamaiah; the Past Pastor of the St.Peters Church, Mr. Roberts; and some of the residents of Bhimili. After the visit to Bhimili, Dr.Aarsse met with the then District Collector, Mr. J.S.V. Prasad to understand the concern and future plans of the administrative authorities in Heritage Conservation, Urban development and Tourism. It was decided then that the workshop could be the beginning. It could assist the development of a Comprehensive Plan.
The initial work was to look into the possibility of a comprehensive restoration project including the site integrated in the city as a tourist attraction. It was meant to look at the architectural aspects as well as the socio-economic angles of restoration and to seek the approval of the local authorities to support the restoration and to include it within the overall Tourism plan.
It was decided to involve the Foundation for Internationally Shared Heritage (FISH), Amsterdam in the project. Subsequently, Ms. Martine Wolff participated in the workshop and provided the Historical background for Bhimili.
Shared Heritage
The Foundation for Internationally Shared Heritage (FISH) aims at the conservation of monuments and believes that this conservation should also be to the benefit of the monuments' immediate surroundings. As such, FISH believes that there is a future for these type of monuments, whose importance has, in their view, been grossly underrated.
Ms.Wolff has been working on the shared material heritage of the Dutch history overseas, since the early eighties of last century. According to her,
'shared heritage' means two things. One, that the heritage finds itself in one country, while its historical information is in another one. The other, that, because of a variety of reasons, its style is a mixture of European and non-European styles, meaning that this type of heritage visibly represents a meeting point of multiple cultures and traditions.
Since Oct 2001, Ms. Wolff started to study the Dutch manuscripts and published sources for Bheemunipatnam, which she had already visited in the early nineties.
Brief for the workshop
The brief for the workshop was to study the needs of Bhimili for restoration, conservation and ecotourism; to know what was still present of the Dutch remnants, what was to be restored, what was to be conserved as part of ecotourism, how much it would cost, what would be the contributions of the local and the state administrative. It was important to arrive at which organisation would do what and how. It was proposed that research on the dutch history would be done in the Netherlands. The number of main participants for the workshop was to be not more than 15. The workshop was meant to bring out the practical problems and solutions with in the end a restoration step-by-step plan.
Meetings with VUDA
Interactions with the Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority have been on since October 2001 in regard to the possibility of a Conservation proposal for Bhimili. The Vice-Chairman, Mr.S.G.K. Kishore and the Chief Urban Planner, Mr. Arunachalam were supportive of the need for such a plan. In December 2001, the Bhimili Utsav organised by VUDA and the local Municipality over 3 days was a big success. This was planned alongwith the annual Visakha Utsav celebrations in Visakhapatnam. VUDA has recently carried out renovations to the Clock Tower and the Clock is now fully functional. Work is underway to develop the area around the clock tower. It is hoped that this will bring back the old flavour of the historic precinct.
Meetings with the Residents
A month before the workshop, frequent visits to Bhimili and interactions with the residents of Bhimili were started. An entry into the community was made through Mr.Oliver Rayi, based in Vizag, whose family had started a school in Bhimili and were therefore known and respected in the town. An introduction to Mr.BalaSubramanyam (a retired State Bank officer and now fully dedicated to social work for Bhimili and giving his time to the management of two govt.run hospitals) led to a joint meeting with Mr.K.S. Murty, a retired Commander and Mr.Johnson Titus (Founders & Management of COTR Theological Seminary, Orphanage, Hospital & School)
The first meeting brought out views of the local people regarding Conservation, Tourism & Community development. It was felt that certain tasks could be undertaken immediately whilst the more comprehensive plans were being formulated. The tasks suggested were :
Construction of Public toilets Cleaning of the beach Restaurants
Hill development
Encroachments by fishermen
Renovation of the VUDA Guest house (which would eliminate the time, effort and expenditure on a new hotel in the initial stages of development)
Fishermen’s heritage village for tourists Overall infrastructure development
The group expressed the possibility of individuals investing in an enterprise supporting tourism or the town, if the plans of VUDA and the Tourism department were known to them.
How NGO interventions can support Heritage Conservation
VIKASA is an NGO working in Bhimili with different groups of people and having made much progress. A meeting with the Project Director, Mr.Vishwanadh and with their project co-ordinators Mr. R.R. Gopal, Mr. S.V.B. Rao and Mr. K.Srinivas Kumar led to a better understanding of their work in the town. The nature of the workshop and its implications were discussed and they were requested to present their activities in the workshop. (Ref. : Annexure 5)
It is felt that efforts to develop Bhimili in terms of Heritage Conservation and Tourism would be strengthened by participation from the local communities. Sanitation levels in Bhimili need to be improved to make any new intervention successful. Small enterprises on beach road and within the town such as fish snacks & preserves could attract tourists and visitors. Tour guides could be trained from among these community groups. Potters are being encouraged to develop artifacts in clay that can be marketed within and outside the town.
Bhimili has always had a large fishing community. It is important that the fishermen and other local communities understand also the need for heritage conservation. A program for creating awareness in this area could be developed with the help of NGOs. This program would first understand their priorities, provide the basic necessities through governmental support and through private donor agenicies. It is important to gradually create the necessity within these groups to preserve their habitat, to maintain and take pride in their tiled roof houses which contribute immensely to the aesthetic character of the town. Vikasa has carried out in the past, orientation programs on Urban environment management strategies & approaches. Similar programs would help support the work within the Conservation Plan for Bhimili. Their exposure to and knowledge in Ecosystems would be useful to the Tourism Plan if Ecotourism is to be encouraged.
A meeting was arranged with Sadguru Sivananda Murty, who has had an ashram in Bhimili for several years and has with help from many of his followers been instrumental in initiating and implementing many community development projects in Bhimili and the surrounding area.
Dutch cemeteries and the St.Peters Church
Mr.Roberts, the Ex-Pastor of the St.Peters Church and a retired officer of the Chittivalasa Jute mills shared his concerns about the deteriorating condition of the church and the cemeteries.
His search for a sponsor for the restoration of the cemeteries finally led to a response from the london-based British Association for Cemeteries in South Asia (BACSA). The work for the cemetery at Kumarapalem was taken up. The thick vegetation was cleared, and five feet deep silt removed. It was a two year effort.
The tablets on the tombs were cleaned and the boundary wall repaired. The excavation work also yielded a grave that had not been documented earlier. Repair work for the St.Peters church needs to be taken up and financial support is required from private and govt. funding agencies. The maintenance and landscaping of the flag staff cemetery on beach road is needed.
Meeting with Visakhapatnam Port Trust (VPT) Chairman
Mr. S.R. Rao, Chairman, VPT explained that there was a plan to build a new fishing harbour near Bheemunipatnam. The land in the Bhimili area was to be made available by the Visakhapatnam Port trust and the project would be implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture. This harbour was to replace the harbour at Visakhapatnam, so that the land in Vizag could be utilised differently by the Port trust and also to create a better and more hygienic environment for fisheries. A new fishing harbour is expected to influence in many ways any future development in Bhimili. Today, the fishermen who work in the Visakhapatnam fishing harbour also belong to Bhimili. Their families live in Bhimili while they live in Jalaripeta, a fishermen settlement on beach road in Visakhapatnam. It is expected that the fishermen community in Bhimili would benefit from this harbour because they would be able to work closer to their places of residence.
Meetings with private investors and educational institutes
Several meetings were held with the residents’ group in the month preceding the workshop. A suggestion by the group to involve private investors & educational institutes in the development of Bhimili led to setting up meetings with Mr.K.V. Bhaskar, Manager, Goel Plywood Co.; Principal, Anil Neerukonda Institute of Technology & Sciences (Sangivalasa), Raghu Engineering College, Area Sales Manager, Coca-Cola Company; Mr.Vijay Kumar, Vijay Nirman Construction Co. and others. Most private parties were hesitant to participate and of the view that the time was not yet right to invest extensively in Bhimili. Coca-Cola was willing to consider supporting small projects in the town.
Meeting with Ms.Banashree Banerjee, Consultant in Participatory Planning
Ms. Banerjee provided the broad outline for the workshop programme. It could cover Local resources (Heritage – Architectural, Cultural & Natural; Environment); Needs/Concerns of residents; Master Plan; Tourism; and Short-term & Long-term goals. ‘Immediate steps’ had to be put down during the workshop. She suggested that an ‘Environment Brigade’ could be planned for Bhimili with children forming the brigade to solve the problems of sanitation in the town.
Architecture & Planning
Bhimili has an architectural character and urban fabric that is now not seen anymore in Visakhapatnam and even less in the larger cities like Bombay and Delhi. Bhimili still has tiled roof houses, verandahs with tapering columns and winding streets. These elements give it a charm that holds history within it and an aesthetic that we are becoming less and less familiar with.
Architects & Planners would like the town to stand still in time, to study the different parts of the meaningful whole and bring them into the future designing of our towns. And, also, so that people can enjoy the town and its beauty for some more years to come.
In order for the town to stand still in time, we need to prevent further deterioration of these houses and demolition of the structures. The streets need to be retained without being subjected to “road widening” and “development”. However, Development must take place because Bhimili is a living town, with people and they must grow, with the rest of the surrounding towns and cities. So, the “development” here must be different.
Old factory buidling now demolished (Pic : Mr.S.P. Shorey, 1980)
Development of a town usually implies first the physical development. This would consist of the Reframing of byelaws, the Repair of the drainage systems, the Waste disposal system, Transportation to the town and within it, the Water supply network and so on. In Bhimili, we must work towards Not “bigger roads” but better roads – a different road system perhaps that is not motorable but is useable in some parts by a horse-buggy, for instance. There could be a ring road and some arterial roads meant for vehicular traffic. Not all roads need to be for cars. Several of the stone-paved, winding streets can thus be saved and utilised by pedestrians only.
Bheemunipatnam or Bhimili is the second oldest municipality in India. It is located about 25 km from Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. It was once a dutch colony and there remain till today some structures that were built several decades ago. This town is interesting in terms of its Planning i.e. the outlay of streets; Old buildings and their unique character; Proximity to the sea; the Fishing community and the boat landscape on its shores. It is endowed with natural beauty – a coastline that is beautiful with a lagoon that is serene and a people that are simple and hospitable.
It is important that the town be preserved because today few towns exist in India that still show traces of their past, where history can still be read in the stones that make up the houses, where the house or the choultry (dharamshala) continues to make up the winding street. This historical town needs to be documented so that we can continue to design in the future, houses, streets and towns that reflect both the past and the present. A Civilisation can only be a continuous thread, coloured perhaps differently in different parts, but with a continuity that holds it together. We live today in cities that are made up of components from the western countries, that do not reflect our own past. We create alien environments and fail to understand our own need for continuity.
In addition to the research and documentation of the patterns within the town and the elements that generate these patterns, it is also necessary to prevent any further deterioration
of the structures and the historical secrets they hold. This requires an awareness amongst the people who belong to the town because they can best protect their own immediate environment from their own uninformed efforts to make their town modern and more so, protect it from those who do not belong to the town and have lesser concern for it.
There may be amongst these outsiders, traders who want to tap its business potential and therefore plant shopping areas that may not connect appropriately to the areas they meet at their edges; or builders and developers who may buy up vacant plots of land to construct multi-storeyed, modern residential complexes for the growing population where the square foot coverage and its financial potential are more important than the forms and open spaces generated, where modernity is respected and tradition is not.
Sketches of Bhimili
Sketches of Bhimili exhibited at the workshop were meant to recreate the lost aesthetic aura of the town of Bheemunipatnam in the minds of the people of Bhimili, of the people of Vizag and several others who will one day want to come to Bhimili. The students of the Fine Arts Dept. of Andhra University were commissioned to prepare these sketches which were to be the illustrations for ‘Holidaying in Bhimili’ - How to make Bhimili a tourist attraction, a booklet which was released at the Workshop.
3
Programme
Day 1
Venue (at Municipal Office, Bhimili)
9: 00 am - 11:00 am Historical Bhimili in Dutch Sources Ms. Martine Wolff
Present Situation in Bhimili / Local resources Mr. BalaSubramanyam
Urban Development Authority’s Plans
Mr.S.A. Rehaman, Chairman, VUDA Mr.S.G.K. Kishore, VC, VUDA
Heritage Conservation
Mr. Manish Chakraborti
Needs & Concerns of Bhimili Residents Mr. Shailendra Reddy
11:00 am - 11:30 am Tea / Coffee break
11:30 am - 1 : 30 pm NGO Efforts in Bhimili Sri Sadguru Sivananda Murty
Mr.Vishwanath, Project Director, VIKASA Mr.Prabhakar & Ms.Jyothi, GREEN VISION
MASTER PLAN & DEVELOPMENT for Visakhapatnam & Bhimili Mr.Arunachalam, Chief Urban Planner, VUDA
Prof. Sudhir Thakur, Consulting Engineering Services, ( Consultants for developing the Master Plan )
1: 30 pm - 2 : 30 pm Lunch
2: 30 pm - 3 : 30 pm Discussion
3: 30 pm - 4 : 00 pm Tea / Coffee break
4: 00 pm - 4 : 30 pm TOURISM
Tourism initiatives in the Visakha region Prof. G.S. Rao, Consultant, A.P.Tourism Dept.
Private Entrepreneurial efforts in Bhimili Mr. A.V.Nagabhushan Rao
Day
2
Venue (at the Taj Residency, Visakhapatnam)
9 : 30 am - 11 : 00 am Historical Bhimili Ms.Martine Wolff
Architectural Conservation work Mr.Manish Chakraborti
Bhimili Packages
Mr. S.P. Shorey
Historic city conservation: the French experiment in Ahmedabad
Ashish Banerjee
11:00 am - 11:30 am Tea / Coffee break
11:30 am - 1 : 30 pm GROUP DISCUSSIONS
Group 1 : Heritage Conservation Group 2 : Social Aspects
SHORT-TERM & LONG -TERM GOALS
Discussion : What needs to be done Time frame
1: 30 pm - 2 : 30 pm LUNCH
2.00 p.m - 3.30 p.m Tourist scenario in Vizag & Bhimili
Mr. Madhu Nair, GM, Green Park hotel
Projects identified in Group discussions
3: 30 pm - 4 : 00 pm Tea / Coffee break
4: 00 pm - 5 : 30 pm Summing up : Who will do what . . .Overall Plan
MMM.. OFFICIAL CLOSING by Ms. Chandana Khan, Secretary, Dept. of
Tourism
Participants :
1. Dr. Robert Aarsse
Head, Dept. of Press and Culture Netherlands Embassy
2. Ms.Martine Wolff
Foundation for Internationally Shared Heritage Amsterdam, The Netherlands
3. Mr. Sunil Sharma District Collector
& Chairman, District Tourism Promotion Board 4. Mr. S.G.K. Kishore
Vice-Chairman
Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority 5. Mr. Shailendra Reddy
Municipal Chairman, Bhimili
6. Mr. Niranjan Reddy Commissioner
Municipal Corporation of Bheemunipatnam 7. Mr. S.P Shorey
Special Officer Planning, HUDA
(Completed a report commissioned by the Department of Tourism, Govt of A.P on Conservation and Tourism Development of Bhimili, in 1980)
8. Mr. Roberts
Past Pastor of St.Peters Church
9. Ms.Banashree Banerjee Consultant in Participatory Planning
10. Mr.Ashish Banarjee
Consultant in Conservation
11. Mr.Manish Chakraborti Architect, Urban Planner & Conservationist 12. Mr.A.V. Nagabhushan Rao
Entrepreneur in Tourism sector & now starting projects in Bhimili 13. Mr. BalaSubramanyam
Retd. State Bank of India officer
(actively involved in improving the town, including the management of two hospitals in Bhimili) 14. Mr.Johnson Titus
Director, COTR Theological Seminary, Orphanage & hospital, Bhimili 15. Ms.Kiran Keswani
Architect & Urban Designer
16. Mr. Arunachalam
17. Prof. Thakur, Consulting Engineering Services
Consultants for Master Plan for Visakhapatnam & Bhimili
18. Mr. Oliver Rayi
Consultant, Com-fusions 19. Mr. Seshagiri Rao
Special Officer, Tourism 20. Dr.Pandurangao rao
Tourism officer 21. Mr.Bhuyan
4
Minutes of the meeting
DAY 1 Morning session Participants present : Dr. Robert Aarsse RA Ms. Martine Wolff MW Mr. S.A. Rehaman SAR Mr. S.G.K. Kishore SGK Mr. Arunachalam AR Mr. Bhuyan BY Prof. Thakur TH Prof. G.S. Rao GSR Mr. Seshagiri Rao SR Dr. Panduranga Rao PR Mr. Shailendra Reddy SHR Mr. Niranjan Reddy NR Ms. Banashree Banerjee BB Mr. S.P. Shorey SH Mr. Ashis Banarjee AB Mr. Roberts RO Mr. BalaSubramanyam BS Mr. Manish Chakraborti MC Ms. Kiran Keswani KK Mr. Johnson Titus JT Dr. Prabhakar PK Ms. Jyothi JY Mr. Vishwanadh VH Mr. R.R. Gopal RG Mr. Sivananda Murty SIM Mr. Oliver Rayi OR Mr.A.V. Nagabhusan Rao AVRHistorical Bhimili
Ms.Martine Wolff
The Northern Netherlands, in the 16th century occupied by the Spanish, struggled in the so called "80-years war" for their freedom and freedom of religion, in this case: Protestantism. Because of this war, from 1581, the Portuguese port of Lisbon, where the Dutch used to buy spices and goods which the Portuguese imported from Asia since the early 1500's, became impossible to reach. As the Spanish now also occupied Portugal, the Dutch decided to go and buy the much wanted spices of Asia themselves. Pepper, especially, was very much wanted, as a preservative in foods, and so it gave much profit.
As many as 9 small companies were set up, which in 1602, on the initiative of the Stadholder of the new Dutch republic, were united in the Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie (VOC). The VOC got all kinds of power to act independently once East of Africa. This was also meant to enable the ships to fight the Portuguese and the much hated Spanish competitors. The main goal of the VOC was to fit into the old trading network of Asia. Only a small part of the trade was sent to the Netherlands. Once a year the return-fleet sailed from the VOC's-headquarters in Batavia.
When the Dutch exactly settled down in Bhimli is not known, but they were here before 1642. They had to rent a piece of ground and have permission to build a factory. In later days the company had a mixed relationship with the Princes of Vizianagram who were then the owners of most of the grounds. In Bhimli, the Dutch kept two smaller ships near the shore, just in case.. With the population there were no problems. Many were working for the company. In the 18th century the VOC in Bhimli consisted of 60 people, among whom only 12 or 13 were of Dutch or other European birth, the others were people from the village.
A factory was not a mill, it was the settlement of the company, where they worked, lived and stored their trade. The coming of the ships was dependent on the monsoons, they came only once or twice a year. So: good and safe storage was important.
In Bhimli the Dutch bought rice for Ceylon, jute as packing material, and whatever seemed needed elsewhere. They imported copper from Japan in order to make VOC-coins in their own mint.
In the map of 1756 the plan for a new fort is projected on the map of Bhimli as a village. The then current living quarters of the VOC but also of local people are given. All known wells and tanks are drawn, as well as "pagodes", i.e. temples, and mosks. Dutch reports from after that year 1756 tell, however, that the British later blew-up the Dutch buildings. But it's possible still that they kept a few, which they thought of any use. As the VOC was dissolved before the end of the 18th century, it's not probable that any building built later than 1800 can have been Dutch. The Dutch government took over the debts of the Company and was only too glad to get rid of all financial responsibilities in this part of Asia. In conserving the historic character of Bhimli this map could help conserve the original structure of the village and the identification of several specific elements. To be of real use, this map will have to be blue-printed and will be sent to you in due course.
BS :
Beach in Bhimili and the municipal park
• Old well and tank that needs restoration. The Dutch built a well and water collects in it from the hillside.
Old building with 116 doors was demolished recently
Two cemeteries, one on the beach, the other at Kummarapalem
• The population of Bhimili is made up of mostly labourers and fishermen, communities that are economically backward.
Bhimili has one of the 32 Narasimhaswamy temples The 22 schools in Bhimili need attention
Local people need to have confidence in outsiders
3-4 km. Stretch of plateau on the Narasimha swamy temple. Good for resort. Water harvesting is important
Let 2 long-distance buses be diverted along the beach road Improvement of standard of living of people of Bhimili Who is willing to contribute to the development of Bhimili?
SGK :
Draft action plan
• Need more information from the Dutch about the history We need to mobilize resources
Netherlands technical support
Convergence of resources & efforts of local authority The strength of Bhimili is its heritage.
Weakness : Land value seen as more important than heritage How to make building conservation profitable for private owners Transparent provisions : discussion with stakeholders
• Present services situation of Bhimili o The sewage goes into the river o There is open defecation o Garbage collection is dismal o We need water conservation o Treatment of waste
• The Bhimili clock tower was just renovated by VUDA
Not just Conservation of old buildings but also development of basic services like sanitation, water, etc.
VUDA : Planning and infrastructure improvement by raising local resources 50 lakhs for development of projects in Bhimili
Awareness of conservation in the municipality RNE : Technical assistance
Convergence with govt. depts. Grants for implementation VUDA as nodal agency
Local initiative, local NGO’s , local mandate, local contribution
• While revising the master urban plan we need to include regulations for promoting the development. Need to create rules for the construction of a building next to an old building. Maintain the ambience of the area/ town.
• Need to have development control regulations to enhance the development of the area.
SHR :
Unemployment for a majority of the population Traditional fishermen and the fishing harbour Tourism
IT dept. conducted auctions in 1994 and handed over buildings in 1994 to private owners who demolished some of these structures
Municipal Council has passed a resolution to buy back old buildings through MP grants and public contributions for reconstruction
Reconstruction important
MRO requested to give 1 acre for potters who worked with architecture students of AU The fishermen living in slums, are the original residents of Bhimili
Clock tower, beaches, road works being taken up by VUDA Improving sanitation
For greenery, lease land to unemployed youth to develop cashew plantations Schools to be given more amenities
Land Procedures review
• Bhimili has a severe water problem, the town needs water conservation schemes • Need to plant trees on the 300 acres of barren hillsides
Recognise and build on passion for Conservation
If resources become available for tourism, can they be directed also to development and heritage conservation
How to add value to old buildings
SIM :
Cannot take people to see the town because of poor public hygiene
• The town has a 1km beach strip that needs to be developed – continuation of beach in Vizag
Private entrepreneurs do not find it lucrative to invest in Bhimili Approach roads not good, have to be improved
Maintenance of neighbourhoods to be given to local people Buddhist monuments in the vicinity
• Need to improve public hygiene • Need to improve slums in Bhimili
• The govt has to provide some facilities and infrastructure
• The approach road leading to the town is narrow and not lit. The road has to be improved
• Some enclaves in the town should be encouraged to maintain the buildings themselves. We should take the burden away from the municipal authorities.
• Bhimili is a 2nd century Buddhist settlement • Need to maintain temple surroundings.
VH :
• Vikasa has been working in this area since’98. The civic amenities in the town are inadequate.
• Protected drinking water is not available. • There is open defecation
• Most families live in kutcha houses.
• High concentration of occupation groups / communities • Enrollment in primary schools is less.
• Overall adult literacy is less • There is lack of institutional credit
• Occupational groups in the town : potters, construction worker, domestic workers. Fishing community
PK :
Health, education
Alcoholism, drugabuse, violence against women Personal & environmental hygiene
Tree plantation & kitchen gardens Protection of the beach
Rainwater harvesting structures Training and skills development Cultural heritage
o Celebration of local festivals o Promoting local talents
o Establish a Local museum o Library
o Art center, like Kalashetra in Chennai o Annual cultural festival
o Network with other heritage sites AR :
Impact of the Fishing harbour
o What kind of economic activities? o Anandapuram junction as industrial zone o Fishing-based activities
Road-widening
Heritage regulations forwarded to the govt. Conservation and Economic uses
17 buildings identified in Bhimili Technical problems
Local expertise to be built up Heritage zone
Old, dilapidated buildings & repairs Poor people
Periodic maintenance is a problem Soft loan / grant
Preserve the same city structure
o No road widening
o Gradient very good & well-designed
Ghat road, garden, afforestation on Narasimhaswamy temple Interactive sessions with different stakeholders
• Make certain areas a pedestrian precinct
• Start afforestation of hillsides with medicinal plants.
TH :
Example of Pink city
Crafts training centre in Bhimili
Amphitheatre for annual dance & music festival Amusement park
Focus group discussion Marine museum
Acquarium Film studio
Recycling of water, rainwater harvesting Non-conventional energy
Bunding, check dams
Urban forestry & urban agriculture
SH :
In Hyderabad, A.P. urban area development Act Heritage building regulations 1995
Structures declared as heritage buildings In Hyderabad, 137 buildings notified Mumbai in 1991 – 600 heritage buildings
o Therefore, owners’ responsibility to repair and maintain
o 15 heritage precincts
Govt. of A.P. has asked all local development authorities to come up with notification February 1997 – notification
Heritage buildings survived because they were not demolished by the owners Saved 4 govt. and 10 private buildings because of notification
Transfer of development rights
Regulation gives Conservation as an option
DAY 1
Afternoon session
JT :
We, in Bhimili want to get things started now.
TH :
Explained the master plan process
o Mapping
o Consultation through workshops o Household surveys
o Consultation with institutions MC :
Is there a vision for Bhimili?
Is there a special consideration for Bhimili?
TH : Conservation Renovation Readaptive uses AB : Discussion on planning Discussion on Conservation
Common interests but measures required
To think in consonance with the scale of the town
Heritage is what the community thinks it is, it does not exist in isolation Can the Bhimili community gain
The scale of Bhimili is very good to work in Enhancing the quality of life
BG :
We have a ladder to climb How to start
Address the small problems : sanitation
SM :
Master plan will take a few years, what until then
There is already a master plan. The new one is being prepared
For heritage buildings – within the power of the municipality to permit any use Heritage areas can be notified by municipality under the act
JY :
Repair of the college building in Bhimili Renovation of the 100 year old Rama temple Skills and resources available
If an old building with strong walls is given to our NGO, we can restore it
MC :
We need to identify opportunity areas for Conservation
JT :
If the municipality can make a list of projects and initiatives of different NGO’s Maybe, change of functions
MC :
What is the scale at which the Master plan will be prepared?
TH :
1 : 8000 scale
SM :
People need to be aware of ambience
SHR :
It costs a lot of money to preserve buildings
BB :
Convince people that ambience sells
People need to see that people will benefit from heritage conservation
JT :
Awareness of the benefits is required
BG :
Initiative is required
TH :
Master plan questionnaire to be given to stakeholders
BY :
Two days interactive session with municipalities
RA : How to go about SM : Documentation JT :
Public relations
BG :
Ready to take up any one building
BS :
People of Bhimili can volunteer to receive tourists to their homes
AB :
AMC – Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation – heritage cell, involve an outsider to work with the municipality
SM :
Why not tourism department do the public relations?
GSR :
Have a local movement
Rs. 400 crores available for this region, so, why not? Plan for model dutch village in Bhimili
An MOU between the Indian and Netherlands govt. for a plan of action Self-regulation is important for Conservation
Focal point – Tourism development with improvement of the local economy in view Kailashgiri – a ropeway to be included
Beach resorts Dolphinarium
Thotlakonda ring road & ropeway Bavikonda : a buddhist museum Promotion of buddhist tourism in A.P.
o 130 sites, 22 to be taken up o Road show in Japan
Sailing academy Bhimili
o Dutch museum o Develop one street
o Upgrade food and accommodation facilities o Restaurant & food court
o 30 crore Vizag-Bhimili road widening
KPMG report
o Fishermen’s village o Dutch monuments o Narasimhaswamy temple
• National Institute of Tourism Management to be set up at Gachibowli in Hyderabad • Create water sport facilities along the 950kms of coastline
• Start a sailing Academy which will require an investment of 1cr Ayurveda tourism – resorts in Vizag & around Hyderabad Shilparamam – 40 lakhs
Ecotourism at Endada
SHR :
Benefits to the local people
Restore old buildings such as the municipal choultry
Grave yard – the flag staff cemetery still being used us a burial ground. New land will be given for new burials and old cemetery to be preserved as a heritage site
Responsibility has to be fixed for the protection of monuments Bus service required
DTPC – District Tourism Promotion Council, can entertain the proposal of sanitation Provision of individual toilets - the only solution
AVR :
Explains plans for beach development project near estuary, illumination of ruins in Bhimili
Some questions on quality of intervention
RA :
Conservation, Restoration, Tourism – priorities in that order for the Netherlands. Must fit together in something as a whole
DAY 2
Morning session
9 : 30 am - 11 : 00 am Architectural Conservation work Mr.Manish Chakraborti
Bimili Packages
Mr. S.P. Shorey
Historic city conservation: the French experiment in Ahmedabad
Ashis Banerjee
Architectural Conservation work
Mr.Manish Chakraborti
Addressing the Long Pending issues
a) Drawing a vision plan through community consultations to enhance the image and encourage visitors and tourists
b) Look for a driving engine, or create a new one to push the VISION PLAN hard c) Engage in proactive dissemination of the Vision Plan to all levels – local & outsiders
& Winning friends / partners (weal, national, international) Tasking
a) Listing of heritage buildings / precincts
b) Mapping (on a legible scale) heritage buildings and precincts and grade them
c) Pass notification for protection of listed heritage buildings under the provision of the Municipal Act
d) Create a heritage cell as the Municipality e) Prepare guidelines for future development f) Prepare landmark heritage buildings at risk g) Get the illumination of the ruins done
h) Prepare estimates for repair of landmark heritage buildings at risk i) Prepare plan estimates for reconstruction of the Tower building
j) Liaison vigorously to incorporate the Vision Plan to Master Plan for Bhimili under preparation
k) Identify private houses suitable for guest accommodation and other functions Now
1. Begin reconstruction of the Tower building – a significant specific step to revival 2. Begin repair of landmark buildings
3. Promote and encourage accommodation for visitors through re-use / paying guest of listed heritage buildings
4. Go for extensive signage and interpretation
5. Start celebrating, through festivals and local cultural / art events, the process of revival of Bhimili
6. Push hard for legislation for protection of heritage buildings / precincts 7. Encourage LOW KEY TOURIST ACCOMMODATION AND FACILITIES 8. Prepare landscape plans for historic precincts ruins
9. Consolidate and work towards enhancing the image / legibility / interpretation of the tower
Later
Consolidate / Enhance / Monitor / Manage / Maintain Growing Concerns & Chances
1. Protection of heritage buildings
2. Promoting it as a getaway tourist destination
3. Plans and programmes of the department of tourism 4. Preparation of master plan
5. Specific moves – floating restaurant 6. Growing participation of local NGO’s
7. Calcutta – Vizag – Bhimili (?) connection (Ref. Annexure no. DAARI ) 8. Bhimili – Dutch connection (reconnection)
Strengths
The natural landscape : Sea / Beach / Hills
The built landscape : The heritage buildings, traditional streetscape, traditional fishing settlement
Scale of the town : Small , quaint. Manageable History of the town
Weakness
1. Lack of awareness of its uniquely built landscape 2. Destruction of heritage buildings
Buildings gone in the past 4 / 5 years 116 bungalow
the lion gate building the tower building English club house
3. Insensitive development . . . buildings / roads 4. Lack of facilities for visitors
a. Accommodation b. Interpretation
5. Decreasing legibility of the town a. no defined entrance
Bhimili Packages Mr. S.P. Shorey Bhimili Package – 1 Improvement of Water supply Sewerage Garbage removal Storm water Street lights
All wires and cables to be underground
Control & Standardisation of Signboards and Hoardings Street furniture
Bhimili Package – 2
Notification of Streets & Buildings under Municipal Act Regulations under A.P. Urban Act
Heritage Committee Notify buildings Notify precincts Bhimili Package – 3 Traffic Management Pedestrian areas Footpaths Land-use Plans Density Policy (FAR) Architectural Guidelines Bhimili Package – 4 TDR & Other incentives
Improve Govt. / Public properties
MMR – Conservation Society Type body Encouraging Residents’ Pride in Bhimili Municipality to be the Prime mover
Historic city conservation: the French experiment in Ahmedabad
Ashish Banerjee
Interest has moved from the Conservation of monuments to the conservation of historic urban heritage
Conservation of 'living heritage'; historic gardens and landscapes; and of sites which have elements of built as well as natural heritage
Contemporary urban development processes tend to overlook the unique characteristics of the the historic legacy of the urban form while planning for urban growth
Conserving urban heritage is a conscious intervention in the historic city to nurture the built as well as the social fabric
Ahmedabad was chosen by the French for Conservation because of the unique labyrinthine structure of the 'pols' in the historic walled city.
Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation(AMC) had already set up a heritage cell which signified that the AMC would be a willing partner in the project.
Since the bulk of the buildings to be conserved are privately owned the willingness of house owners to come forward and conserve their buildings is an essential precondition for the project to succeed.
Unfortunately many of the best facades were being pulled down and sold to middle-men who were making large profits by selling them abroad.
The Indo-French collaboration took the following major steps:
1. The organisation of three technical workshops entitled SAMBHAVA I, II, & III were organised over 3years with Indian and French experts.
2. Intensive field-work by French and Indian experts with the participation and facilitation of the AMC leading to the preparation of a document which sets out the broad plan.
3. Partnership with HUDCO to channelise French subsidies to house owners in consultation with AMC.
4. Conceptualising a Heritage Centre which would provide technical inputs for conservation.
5. The adoption of Heritage Regulations for the walled city which would first stop demolition of heritage buildings and then ensure that buildings are conserved and maintained in conformity with the proper principles of urban conservation.
6. Partnership with NGOs such as INTACH and other local groups in order to sustain civic interest in conservation.
7. Drawing up MOUs between parties and other confidence-building strategies.
11: 30 am - 1 : 30 pm GROUP DISCUSSIONS
Group 1 : Heritage Conservation Group 2 : Social Aspects
SHORT-TERM & LONG -TERM GOALS
Discussion : What needs to be done Time frame
RA :
Workshop participants to form two discussion groups : Group 1 : Social Aspects
Group 2 : Architectural conservation
The two groups discussed relevant issues and formed their recommendations which were put forth to the entire team.
DAY 2
Afternoon session
2.00 p.m - 3.30 p.m Projects identified in Group discussions Tourist scenario in Vizag & Bhimili (Mr. Madhu Nair, GM, Green Park hotel)
Projects identified in Group discussions Social Aspects
The group discussed issues related to Sanitation, Water supply, Education, Environment & Community Awareness about Heritage as well as Sanitation. It felt that water harvesting needs to be taken up and the various initiatives that are happening in A.P. could be extended to Bhimili with the assistance of VUDA. In Sanitation, various govt. schemes such as integrated low-cost sanitation schemes, Sulabh sauchalaya could be followed to prevent open defaecation. Some would serve itinerant travellers like tourists and others would be for residents. It was important to improve living conditions in Bhimili whether or not it becomes a tourist destination. The discussion was restricted to short-term goals.
The group identified the following proposals to be immediately taken up for implementation and confirmed participation from NGO’s for these projects :
1. Tank and old well restoration. To augment water supply technical expertise needed. Lions club has taken the initiative to desilt and clean the well.
(Proposal to be sent to VUDA)
2. Program for awareness of cultural & architectural heritage for school children
(Gautam Boat House)
3. Community awareness programs (Green Vision)
4. Tree Plantation program with two local colleges (Lions Club – Mr.BalaSubramanyam)
(Saplings to be provided by VUDA)
5. Inventory of facilities that are lacking in the local schools to be prepared 6. Sanitation schemes of the govt.
The NGO’s in the group thought that through private negotiation, Conservation is possible, if technical expertise is available.
Architectural conservation Short-term objectives
Govt. to notify heritage buildings
Architectural Control / Guidelines (BHC) Rebuild the circular tower
Listing of buildings
o Include precincts in the scope o Institutional support from AU
Bhimili Heritage Committee Heritage Walk (INTACH) Signage
o Advertisement control
Adopt buildings (Port authorities)
o Port Custom house to be retained at all costs o State Govt. to take appropriate action
o Identify other buildings and areas
Conservation Plan to be developed (BHC-CES-VUDA)
o Individual historic buildings o Precincts
o Streets and Plazas
o Street furniture / Landscape
Long-term objectives Fishing village
i. More facilities
ii. Integration into the overall development plan
Development of tourism-related facilities
i. Open air theatre
ii. Travel guides / assistance iii. Information kiosks
Assessment of carrying capacity of Bhimili
i. Environmental Assessment
Underground Wiring/Cabling Reclaiming what is lost
BS :
For Water Conservation in Bhimili, Govt.’s Neeru-Meeru program and the food-for-work program.
JT :
Near Bhimili, there is a river called Gosthani. The city of Visakhapatnam gets some percentage of water from the river in Bhimili. Why are the people of Bhimili having a water shortage when Bhimili is supplying to a major city. Why can the town not tap into its own water?
BG:
The Gosthani river passes through Araku and flows down to Bhimili but the problem is the salinity. The salinity reaches right upto 3-4 km up the river.
In Tagarapuvalasa is the main pumphouse and we are having a water problem inspite of being only 5 km away. If you don’t have water, any tourism project or whatever you plan now, will not work.
TH :
There are hundreds of water bodies in the Visakhapatnam Metropolitan region (VMR) Satellite image of December, 2 months after the monsoon, did not show any
waterbodies People’s participation is important, through the panchayats. A program for desilting the water tanks can be carried out.
We are preparing this master plan for 2020 and there is absolutely no water in the VMR.
AS :
The Delhi Master Plan 2020 too will include the protection of the natural heritage, especially water bodies
An opportunity for Master Plan Consultants to integrate the water bodies into the plan. Some of the water is evaporating, some of the water is percolating.
In the past, desilting used to be a community activity
Every village has its own reservoir. Every village has a desilting system before the monsoon. Water shortage affects the rich and the poor alike and we must bring people together around concerns like this.
TH :
Recharging of wells to be undertaken
RA :
Recommendations of Social Aspect Group
The most important is the the old tank & well which is connected to two issues – water management & heritage conservation.
Enormous need for awareness in different fields, including cultural heritage, through education
That Bhimili is Bhimili and that the people of Bhimili should be proud of Bhimili Recommendations of Architecture Group
Short-term :
Creation of the Bhimili Heritage Cell
The Cell or Committee to work with Municipal Chairman and the Council to advise & to help implement Heritage & Social projects, since we can’t do one without the other. Heritage cell is also the window in which people, NGO’s will formulate new ideas, oppositions etc.
To rebuild the image of Bhimili as a heritage town. To rebuild the circular tower. It would give a signal to everyone concerned, that one is in Bhimili and it becomes a logo.
Long-term :
The heritage walk, needs some people to think about it. Nothing goes without the people of Bhimili. You cannot put a heritage walk in Bhimili and say this is this, if the people of the houses have not been told what is being put on their walk.
A letter to the Port & Customs authorities that the City of Bhimili is taking interest in the Port Office as a sort of heritage.
Fishing village near main road needs new facilities and also needs to be integrated into the whole
Tourist scenario in Vizag & Bhimili
Mr. Madhu Nair, GM, Green Park hotel
Tourist inflow in Visakhapatnam is negligible
Vizag is blessed by nature with blue seas, lush green mountains & golden sands Awareness of Visakhapatnam has never been as a tourist location
Just as there is Chennai & Mahabalipuram, Bhubaneswar & Puri, a relation can be established for tourism between Vizag & Bhimili
Even A.P. is not on the tourist map
Hyderabad-Vizag sector could be made free on some airlines
Tourists need to first reach Vizag and then they will come to Bhimili The stretch to Bhimili to be interesting continuously for the tourist There must be Awareness + Infrastructure development
Vizag is looked upon as a fishing village in other metropolitan cities Domestic tourism here has gained momentum in the last 2 years
Paying capacity of the people who visit is of the A.P. Tourism Yatri Niwas category They come from Bhubaneswar, Calcutta and to an extent, Hyderabad
The people of Hyderabad prefer Bangalore to Visakhapatnam
Need for user-friendly beaches; Gangavaram or Rushikonda or R.K. beach all have rough terrain, strong undercurrents and a steep drop in level
There should be a time frame, say, 2 years
If Green Park were to invest in Bhimili, we need to study carefully the viability and at present it is not good
Beach resorts being set up on the Vizag-Bhimili road are not taking off either
In Vizag, 95% of people are employed. It is a very price-sensitive city and everything needs to be value for money
The few remaining city inhabitants who are in the higher bracket, prefer Goa, or Bangkok to Bhimili or Rushikonda beaches
If investors have to come to Vizag, it has to be user-friendly
If tourists come from Calcutta, or Bhubaneswar, they come for Water. They have never seen the Sea
What the tourists want to see i.e. what the hotel can sell them is Borra Caves & Araku Green Park hotel tried to sell Buddhist sites; the tourists are too bored with that, they
come here to relax
Sell Bhimili as a land’s end. You reach it . . . you have a lagoon, you have the sea. We need to make here something innovative
Today, Bhimili has no more than a boat ride for a tourist
In Vizag, the rooms capacity in 3-star hotels & upwards is 680 rooms On an average, across the city, daily 250 rooms are lying vacant
A hotel on the beach also sells itself as a business destination rather than a tourist destination
All hoteliers here do have a tourist package that consists of City sight-seeing, Rushikonda, Kailashgiri & so on
In Bhimili, there are no hygienic restaurants & no rest rooms There are no lights on the Vizag-Bhimili road
4: 00 pm - 5 : 30 pm Summing up : Who will do what . . . Overall Plan
MMM.. OFFICIAL CLOSING by Ms. Chandana Khan, Secretary, Dept. of
Tourism
Mr. Sunil Sharma, District Collector, Visakhapatnam
Two important issues, both equally important and dependent on each other o Preserve Dutch culture, to offer something new
o Improve infrastructure facilities for tourism
Easy access to Bhimili from Vizag is important. So, road improvement to be incorporated in the Master Plan
Lighting to be developed on Vizag-Bhimili road
Co-ordinated approach with support from the local people
The community will understand and appreciate Conservation only if they see some economic benefit in it. Cannot see improvement of Clock tower, Church or Governor’s bungalow in isolation.
In order to bring about economic benefits to the local people, utilise their services as guides, etc.
Local market, restaurants, boat club to be developed further
Bhimili can only be one part of the tourism circuit. Therefore, an integrated plan is needed.
Ms. Chandana Khan, Secretary, Dept. of Tourism :
Emphasis on Bhimili is good
KPMG report on tourism plan for coastal andhra includes revival of dutch heritage in Bhimili
Immense tourism potential of this area and needs to be taken up on priority
Issue of Bhimili redevelopment revived after interest taken by the Netherlands embassy
We are here to make a long-term plan and a short-term plan The objective is very functional
VUDA will develop a masterplan which will have all the micro-details
Few things that are considered important by all need to be immediately taken up Implementation is really the task
HERITAGE CONSERVATION
Heritage buildings are being demolished. There is no time to lose. Objective is to revive Bheemunipatnam as the Dutch heritage town
Revival to be based on Sustainable tourism development, Ecofriendliness, Concerns of the local authorities etc.
Unnecessary apprehensions, misgivings, suspicions in the local people whenever tourism has to be developed
Local people feel that they will lose their jobs, fishermen feel that they will have to go away
Apprehensions because pre-project activities not appropriate i.e. series of interactions are required with the local people; transparency; discussing the master plan with them. It is necessary to do this and as soon as possible
Consensus has been reached on what government should do, what NGO’s should do, what others should do
The minutes of the meeting and the Master plan to specify what NGO’s should do The committee should clarify what VUDA should do, what tourism dept. should do Roles to be clearly defined as a result of workshop
Quality of tourists is improving, they are more educated and so interest also in history Architectural guidelines to be formulated and laws to be enforced by the Bhimili
Municipal Corporation regarding building heights and designs of buildings
Only when the regulations already exist can approvals for new plans be regulated Conservation architects are important and VUDA and municipality to take their services
to have professional inputs
TOURISM
Carrying capacity of a small town – cannot have too many hotels
No necessity for accommodation in Bhimili. Tourists come here for one day. 17 heritage buildings in Bhimili to be notified
Circular tower will be a unique selling point and can be a part of the short-term plan In the Action Conservation plan 2002, at least 2-3 buildings to be conserved. It must be
decided which 2-3 buildings need to be conserved first.
Signages for Hyderabad are being designed by NID. Same can be done for Bhimili Signage is very important and needs to be done professionally
RTC buses going to Vizianagaram need to pass through Bhimili
After the master plan is completed, sources of funding need to be identified Start now with the short-term plan which will be done in 1 or 2 years
Who will do what and the source of funding
Govt. of India is going to give funds for integrated master plan for Visakhapatnam, Bhimili and Araku areas
Will the Netherlands embassy make some provision for the development of some area through the local authorities
The RNE has facilitated this workshop and brought us together
After Hyderabad, concentration of the tourism dept. is on Visakhapatnam
Similar to Visakha utsav, Bhimili utsav is also important to popularise the town. It could be done at a larger scale
Short-term plan should be drawn up immediately
Request to the District Collector to pay as much attention on Bhimili as on Visakhapatnam
5
Plan of Action
Revival of Bhimili with efforts in the fields of :
Infrastructure development Community development Entrepreneurship development Economic development Heritage Conservation Tourism
It is proposed that the plan of action towards
Heritage Conservation
be : 1. The Bhimili Municipal Corporation to form the Bhimili Heritage CellBhimili Heritage Cell to be an autonomous body, with approvals for restoration and new projects, architectural guidelines, development control to be directly enforced by them and with responsibility to take action on heritage issues without delay.
2. Port Authorities (Port office, Kakinada)
a. Prevent damage to the Port office building in Bhimili b. To not allow sale of the building
c. Improve the condition of the building
d. Building to be handed over to the Municipal authorities or the Tourism dept.
e. Adaptive use for the building for better future maintainance
3. Principal Secy, Municipal Administration to issue orders : a. Approving the heritage regulations for Bhimili
b. Approving the listing of 17 buildings sent in 1999 c. Send a copy of approval to VUDA
4. For Sanitation, sanction of a special grant to the Bhimili Municipal Authority & for Garbage disposal by VUDA