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In Versova, Mumbai, stands the Talati Bungalow, a relic of the Seven Bungalows era, tucked away in a pristine corner near the shore. Despite its outward appearance of a ramshackle Burma teak roof, the interior boasts 20 rooms with high ceilings, a majestic hall adorned with stained glass, and Italian Carrara marble flooring. Dating back to 1900 AD, marked by an engraved insignia tile on one of the two wells outside, it holds significant historical value as one of the last two original Seven Bungalows in Versova.
Recently, the fate of this slice of Mumbai's history came into question when the BMC issued a notice on Feb 29 to the property's owners, now named Rattan Kunj, ordering them to vacate and demolish the structure. The notice cited the building's "ruinous state" and the likelihood of it collapsing based on the findings of the BMC's technical advisory committee (TAC), responsible for assessing the structural integrity of buildings.
However, the owners, Shaloo Rahul Barar and her two sons, allege a conspiracy orchestrated by a developer aiming to seize the land for redevelopment. They claim that the bungalow underwent its first-ever structural audit in its 124-year history when developers showed interest in the property. According to their report, the bungalow passed the tests, requiring only minor repairs, which were promptly addressed. Despite other co-owners having vacated, the Barars remain steadfast in their defense, accusing the audit reports of unfairly deeming the structure unfit for occupancy.
Sub engineer Jayesh Raut from the K-West office disclosed that the co-owners submitted two contradictory audit reports, leading the TAC to designate the bungalow as "dangerous to occupy." Barar contested the validity of the TAC's conclusion, alleging that she was denied access to the report despite multiple requests.
This controversy echoes concerns raised by MLAs in the assembly last December regarding the misclassification of sturdy structures as dilapidated. They called for the inclusion of independent members in the TAC to ensure fair evaluations of building conditions.
Adding to the complexity, a recent report by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (Intach) contradicts the TAC's assessment, asserting that Rattan Kunj is structurally stable. While acknowledging the need for repairs to preserve certain architectural elements, Intach recommends a conservation plan to safeguard the building from further deterioration.
Historically, the bungalow, alongside Kaikei Villa, Rus Cottage, Jasbir Villa, Gulistaan, Vijay Bhawan, and Shanti Niwas, was erected post-plague in 1896. Notably, it had illustrious original owners including the Maharaja of Gwalior, the Maharaja of Kutch, Dadabhai Naoroji, scholar Rustom Masani, Sorabji Talati, the Chinais, and Khambattas, as documented by the Intach report.
In conclusion, the Talati Bungalow's impending demolition underscores the broader challenges of balancing urban development with the preservation of cultural heritage, prompting calls for more transparent and equitable processes in assessing the fate of historical structures.
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