MATHERAN: A COMPREHENSIVE HERITAGE LISTING PROPOSAL FINAL REPORT VOLUME I AN INTACH PROPOSAL PROJECT CONSULTANT K. UNWALLA ARCHITECTS AR. KIRTIDA UNWALLA (CONSERVATION) AR. SUNEETA SAMANT (PLANNER) FOR M.M.R. HERITAGE CONSERVATION SOCIETY MATHERAN HILL STATION A COMPREHENSIVE HERITAGE LISTING PROPOSAL K.Unwalla Architects 5/7 Oak Lane, Mumbai 400 023 Tel. 91-22-2670302 E.mail:
[email protected] FINAL REPORT SEPTEMBER 8, 2000 ARCHITECT KIRTIDA UNWALLA MATHERAN HILL STATION A COMPREHENSIVE HERITAGE LISTING PROPOSAL l- MalheranHeitase Lislng PREFACE lvlaiheransits on a plateau,in an areaof onlyI squaremiles and at an elevationof 2600feet, surroundedby the Sahyaddlvlountains, an exlraordinaryegacy ihai hasendured despite the ravagesof timeand neglecl. While most other hill siaiions jn Indiahave succumbed to waves of toufistsand unDlanneddevelooment. I\4athe€n has survivedbecause it has rcsistedthe automobib.However ils survivalis beingsefiously threatened by recklessdemolition and buildingand by plansio introducethe automobile. lvlathemnis notonly a cult!€l legacywhich needs to be proiecledand developed thoughiiully but it is also a great naturairesource with immenseintrinsic value that can contribute signifjcanUyto the ecologicalsurvival of the largeflvlatheran - ft,'lalangGad region.lt is thereforevltal to lookat not just its fascinatinghistory but alsoto apprehendits immense poientialas a musefor fut!rc generations. The INTACHGreater llrumbai chapter, responding to a call tof help frornthe l\4atheran BachaoSamiti, an Organisationof localpeople who are tryingvaliantly lo stop reckless developmentat the hill station,decided lo lake up this projectas the first step towards ensuringthoughtful development for Matheran.This study'The ComprehensiveHeritage Listingfor lvlathe€nHill Siaiion.' identifies the valueof the builtenvhonment, as well as the naiuraland ecologicalcharacter of the entirehill resource.lt is inlendedto informplanning decisionsand helpthe authorities,landowners and developels to deviseschemes, which will resoectlhe hill'sunioue environment.