Chandigarh Administration Strengthens Collaboration with French Delegation to Preserve City’s Architectural Heritage
Chandigarh, 4th October 2024: The Chandigarh Administration, in its continued commitment to preserving the rich heritage and architectural legacy of the city, hosted a high-level meeting led by Sh. Rajeev Verma, Adviser to the Administrator, UT Chandigarh.with a visiting French delegation led by His Excellency Gregor Trumel, Counsellor for Culture, Education, and Science.
The meeting aimed to further strengthen bilateral efforts in restoring Chandigarh’s iconic architecture to its original glory.
The delegation also included Ms. Amandine Roggeman, Cultural Attache, and Ms. Ophelie Belin, Director of Alliance Française Chandigarh. The Chandigarh Administration was represented by Sh. Mandeep Brar, Home Secretary, Sh. Surendra Yadav, Director General of Police (DGP), Sh. Rajeev Mehta, Chief Architect, and Sh. C.B. Ojha, Chief Engineer, among other senior officers.
In his welcome address, Sh. Rajeev Verma extended a warm welcome to the French delegates and presented them with souvenirs symbolizing Chandigarh’s cultural ethos. The Chief Architect, Sh. Rajeev Mehta, provided a detailed presentation on heritage items and articles related to le corbusier in Chandigarh.
During the discussions, the progress of restoration the issue of the illegal auction of heritage furniture items designed by Le Corbusier and Jeanneret in various countries was addressed. The Chandigarh Administration sought assistance from the French delegation in accessing original drawings and documentation related to the furniture items. It was proposed that France could share its preservation practices and collaborate on developing training modules to safeguard Chandigarh’s artifacts.
A key outcome of the meeting was the decision to formulate a joint working group for a concrete action plan, which will be submitted to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) for approval. This plan will focus on tracking and retrieving heritage items that have been stolen and auctioned overseas. Both sides expressed their commitment to ensuring that these historically significant artifacts are returned to their rightful place in Chandigarh.
His Excellency Gregor Trumel commended the Chandigarh Administration’s efforts in preserving the city’s architectural heritage, particularly the restoration work of original artifacts related to Le Corbusier. He emphasized the importance of further enhancing the partnership between the French Government and Chandigarh to ensure the protection of these historical treasures.
The meeting concluded with both sides expressing a strong commitment to continue collaborative efforts in heritage preservation and restoration, ensuring that Chandigarh’s architectural legacy remains intact for future generations.
