Culture dept likely to revise allocation for Jufelhurst's restoration

Dept allocated Rs30m for building's preservation before its demolition in April

KARACHI: Like every year, the culture, tourism and antiquities department has made an allocation of Rs30 million in the upcoming year's budget for the preservation, conservation and restoration of the Jufelhurst Government School building. However, the department will have to revise this cost due to the building's recent demolition.

The preservation of the building was part of an approved project of August, 2015 and since then it has been a regular feature of the department's budget. However, the main building of the school, which was the residence of the school's founder, the late Sybil D'Abreo, was demolished by the builder mafia in April this year, allegedly under the supervision of the local police.



Later, the Sindh government announced the restoration of the 86-year-old building, which was opposed by certain architectural schools of thought. However, no money has been allocated specifically for the restoration of the demolished site.

According to the culture department's assistant curator, Zaheer Ahmed Shaikh, Rs30 million was the estimated amount for the project before the building was demolished. After the revised feasibility report is issued, a fresh estimation will have to be made and the cost will most likely increase.

When asked why the estimated amount was not utilised earlier, Shaikh said that Rs4.5 million of the amount was spent on the planning and consultancy components. Since they did were not able to obtain a no objection certificate for the preservation, construction and restoration of the school's building from the department's technical committee, they could not continue with the project, he explained. According to him, the department has not begun the restoration work of the demolished building because the matter is still in court.

Multiple structures in the area around the Jufelhurst Government School premises were listed as protected heritage sites under the Sindh Culture and Heritage (Preservation) Act, 1994, according to a notification issued by the culture department.



No future construction

According to the Sindh Building Control Authority's (SBCA) by-laws, no further construction can ever take place at the school's site after its demolition.

"In case of unauthorised or illegal demolition of a declared protected heritage building, no fresh approval of a building plan on the said plot shall ever be permitted and a fine as permitted by an ordinance, as amended from time to time, shall be imposed by the authority, in addition to any other fine that may be imposed by the department under the provision of the Sindh Cultural and Heritage (Preservation) Act, 1994, or the Antiquities Act, 1975," reads Section 15 of chapter 15, Preservation of Heritage Buildings, of the Karachi Building and Town Planning Regulations, 2002. The section is related to the preservation of heritage buildings.

However, architect Marvi Mazhar claimed to have done proper documentation of D'Abreo's residence. She believes that after a proper analysis of the rubble, the yellow stone used in the construction of the building can be used again.

"We cannot abandon the site [and therefore] encourage the builder mafia," she urged, adding that the damage was done but they will definitely rebuild the structure and the Sindh government will bear the cost.