Ahmedabad: The garden redevelopment of the iconic Sidi Saiyyed mosque is under review, with the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) convening an emergency meeting of the state govt-appointed Heritage Conservation Committee (HCC) over the project conditions set by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The decision to meet comes after Tuesday’s site visit by civic chief Banchha Nidhi Pani. The proposal currently before the HCC places on record the ASI conditional approval, which mandates that the AMC must obtain all ‘other requisite approvals’ before work around the monument commences. Mandatory among them are nods by the National Monument Authority (NMA). “We need to check if NMA has given all requisite clearances for the project,” said a senior AMC official.The project received ASI’s “conditional nod” on Sep 2 last year. ASI’s directive prioritizes the structural integrity of the 16th-century monument and its intricately carved stone jali. The ASI letter states that a strict 10-ft buffer zone must be maintained from the mosque’s wall , free from any construction or barricading, during the project. It further adds, “To safeguard the foundation, all existing hedges or plantations within this radius must be removed.” The letter also mandates that a proper compound wall with suitable design and elevation be constructed, as already proposed, in consultation with and subject to approval of the superintending archaeologist.On technical compliance, the ASI has stated, “All new civil works must be fully reversible and maintain zero direct structural connection with the mosque’s fabric.” The ASI has restricted construction to lime-based or compatible traditional materials to prevent irreversible damage. Furthermore, surface drainage must be engineered to ensure runoffs are directed away from the monument.Aesthetically, the redevelopment — including the proposed China mosaic and a simple fountain — must harmonize with the monument’s existing colour palette. Lighting and CCTV installations are permitted only if fixtures and cabling are not done on the mosque’s structure, ASI’s conditional approval says.The plan also introduces modern standards of inclusivity, requiring accessibility features for the elderly and differently-abled. The ASI has ordered “a comprehensive design revision to align with these conditions before any work begins on-site”.
