The chimney’s location to be rebuilt into a G+2 retail building, and a staircase is intended to be built there. As construction continues, the massive McDonald’s that was formerly located close to the chimney has already closed.
The city has a rich history in addition to being well-known for its energetic culture, busy streets, and tall skyscrapers. But activists worry that this historical tapestry could be at danger. The Chakachak Dadar Social Organisation, headed by its founder, Chetan Kamble, has issued an urgent appeal in response to the scheduled removal of the historic mill chimney at Phoenix Mill Shopping Mall. Kamble has written to Bhushan Gagrani, the Municipal Commissioner of BMC, requesting prompt action to prevent the demolition of this important building and designate it as a heritage precinct.
“The demolition of the chimney at Phoenix Mill would not only obliterate a piece of this rich history but also represent a blow to the city’s collective memory,” stated Chetan Kamble, a Dadar activist and the founder of the Chakachak Dadar Organization. If the city has designated even minor landmarks as historic, how much more ought these imposing reminders of the industrial era to be revered and conserved? Because of its historical significance, the chimney of the former Dawn Mills in Lower Parel, for example, was preserved from demolition during redevelopment. The choice to keep it intact acknowledged the cultural significance these buildings had for the city.
The Phoenix Mill chimney demolition must stop right away, according to activists, who also want it added to Mumbai’s heritage list and designated as a heritage precinct. They also stress the importance of public participation in the preservation of the city’s historical landmarks and call for a probe of the No Objection Certificate (NOC) approval procedure.
Source: The Free Press Journal
