Newsletter - IIA MahaCon 2010 - Pune

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IIA Maha Convention 2010 and All India Architects Congress at Pune

Introduction

The development progress of Maharashtra state over the last 50 years has been significant, and an

inspiration to architects throughout India. Architects from all the major cities, towns and corners of this

proud state have contributed to this development in this part of India. To commemorate this achievement,

the Indian Institute of Architects Pune Centre and Maharashtra Chapter, along with the Council of

Architecture (COA), hosted a convention on the 8th of October, 2010 (Friday), followed by the Architects

National Congress on the 9th of October (Saturday), at Laxmi Lawns, Magarapatta City, Pune.

The convention deliberated upon important issues & serious concerns related to the practice of the

architectural profession, in the context of recent liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation in India.

A highlight of this convention would be the All India Architects Congress which is directly related to COA,

and thus the Architects Act, and hence important for all registered Architects. The congress debated over

issues pertaining to architectural practice and education in focused subject committee forums and finally in

the main session / general body where 10 resolutions were considered and unanimously passed. The

same would be forwarded to concerned authorities for further action.

More than 3000 Architects participated in the Convention Dy. Ch. Min. Shri Chagan Bhujbal greets the Convention

More than 2800 architects from the length and breadth of the country registered and participated in this

mega-event. The intent was two-folds – one to discuss serious issues plaguing our architectural fraternity in

a participative manner with expert guidance, and second, to celebrate the state’s development progress

over the last 5 decades, and chart the course for the future. With this being the largest gathering of

Architects in recent collective memory, the event took the opportunity to bring forward pressing issues

regarding practice of architecture that some architects may have been oblivious to, while ensuring that such

a meet is also a social event, full of camaraderie, bonhomie and inter-dispersed with the mandatory fun &

revelry.

Book Launch of “The Journey” at Maha Convention Laxmi Lawns, Magarpatta City – the Venue

Organisation

Under the stewardship of prominent Pune Architect, Prakash Deshmukh (Exec.

COA, and Past-Chairman IIA Mahar

team of IIA Pune Centre, IIA Maharashtra Chapter and collaborative architects, put their collective heads

together for over six months to ensure proper planning and management of such an unprecedented large

event.

Keynote Speaker, Ar. H. Contractor with the Convention OC Convenor Ar. Prakash Deshmukh

Key Highlights of the Convention

Day 1:

•

Mumbai, on the progress of development in India so fa

trends seen

demands of low land availability in an increasingly urban future.

•

Chaney showed the

•

Prasanna Desai (Pune) on the relevance of social architecture, in the

shaping of our cities in the immediate and near future.

Day 2:

The Architects congress was held with nine important issues, debated over

1. Council of Architecture and Government Nodal Ministry

Speakers – Prof. Shireesh Deshpande (Nagpur) & Prof. Akhtar Chauhan (Mumbai)

RESOLUTION PASSED - “It is the prerogative of the Honourable Prime Minister to allocate business of the

Government to various Departments and Ministries.

Resolved, that the honourable Prime Minister be requested to allocate the business of Architects Act 1972,

and the Council of Architecture, to the Ministry of Urban Development, Govt. of India, under the Allocation

of Business Rules 1961.”

2. Mutual Recognition Agreements

qualifications for working abroad

Speakers – Ar. A.N. Ramanathan (N. Delhi

RESOLUTION PASSED – “Resolved that the Council of Architecture should enter into mutual recognition

agreements with registration boards of other countries, to facilitate cross

Architects in both countries, strictly on basis of reciprocity.

Under the stewardship of prominent Pune Architect, Prakash Deshmukh (Exec.

Chairman IIA Maharashtra Chapter) as Convenor for the event,


months to ensure proper planning and management of such an unprecedented large

ntractor with the Convention OC Convenor Ar. Prakash Deshmukh

Keynote address by renowned Architect Hafeez Contractor of

Mumbai, on the progress of development in India so fa

trends seen. He stressed on promoting high-rise development to meet the


Presentations by veteran Architect Kamu Iyer

Chaney showed the changes Maharashtra state has undergone so far

Lectures by Architects & Urban Designers, P.K Das (Mumbai) and



The Architects congress was held with nine important issues, debated over 3 simultaneous

Council of Architecture and Government Nodal Ministry

Prof. Shireesh Deshpande (Nagpur) & Prof. Akhtar Chauhan (Mumbai)

he prerogative of the Honourable Prime Minister to allocate business of the

Government to various Departments and Ministries.


Architecture, to the Ministry of Urban Development, Govt. of India, under the Allocation

greements (MRA) with other countries to give equivalence to Indian

qualifications for working abroad

N. Delhi) & Ar. Ramaraju (Chennai)

Resolved that the Council of Architecture should enter into mutual recognition

agreements with registration boards of other countries, to facilitate cross-border architectural practice by

Architects in both countries, strictly on basis of reciprocity.”

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Under the stewardship of prominent Pune Architect, Prakash Deshmukh (Exec. Council Member of the

shtra Chapter) as Convenor for the event, a specialised technical


months to ensure proper planning and management of such an unprecedented large

COA President Ar. V. Sohoni

renowned Architect Hafeez Contractor of

Mumbai, on the progress of development in India so far, and the emerging

rise development to meet the


Kamu Iyer and by Ar. Iqbal

changes Maharashtra state has undergone so far.

ctures by Architects & Urban Designers, P.K Das (Mumbai) and



simultaneous forums.

Prof. Shireesh Deshpande (Nagpur) & Prof. Akhtar Chauhan (Mumbai)

he prerogative of the Honourable Prime Minister to allocate business of the


Architecture, to the Ministry of Urban Development, Govt. of India, under the Allocation

with other countries to give equivalence to Indian

Resolved that the Council of Architecture should enter into mutual recognition

border architectural practice by

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3. Public, Semi-Public and Govt. Projects – Procedure and norms for allocation of job, scope of

work and fees structure

Speakers – Ar. Nimish Patel (Ahmedabad) & Ar. Partha Ranjan Das (Kolkata)

RESOLUTION PASSED – “Resolved that the Architects Act be suitably amended to ensure that the basis

for selection and appointment of Architect for public, semi-public and Government projects, must be the

competence and prior experience of the Architect, and not professional fees charged. The process of

tendering and financial bidding for architectural services be prohibited.”

Ar. Nimish Patel & Parul Zaveri discuss scope of Architects’ work Prof. Jaimini Mehta & Ar. K.B. Jain demands CEPs

4. Creation of facilities for continuing education programmes for Professionals

Speakers – Ar. K.B Jain (Ahmedabad) & Ar. Jaimini Mehta (Ahmedabad)

RESOLUTION PASSED - “Resolved that Council of Architecture must create facilities for Continuing

Education Programmes for registered Architects. The Architects Act be suitably amended to make it

mandatory for all registered architects to acquire certain number of credits through Continuing Education

Programs, leading to renewal of registration.”

5. National Building Code and COA Norms for practicing Architects

Speakers – Ar. Rajiv Raje (Pune) & Ar. Pramod Shinde (Hyderabad)

RESOLUTION PASSED - “Resolved that the Govt. of India be requested to take steps to stop architectural

practice by non-architects. The National Building Code has made provisions to allow non-architects to

design buildings on plots upto 500 Sq.M. The Govt. of India be requested to immediately direct the Bureau

of Indian Standards to delete from the national Building Code, such provisions which are contrary to the

provisions of the Architects Act.”

6. Implementation of the Architects Act - Foreign Architects in India

Speakers – Ar. Hafeez Contractor (Mumbai) & Ar. Ashish Ganju (N. Delhi)

RESOLUTION PASSED - “Resolved that the Architects Act be suitably amended to restrict practice of

architecture in India by foreign Architects. Further resolved, that, foreign Architects be allowed to practice in

India, only in partnership with an Indian Architect, with the foreign Architect having not more than 49%

share of the partnership. The Foreign Architect should also bear professional responsibility and liability.

Such foreign Architects should also be subjected to domestic regulations binding upon Indian Architects.”

7. Architectural practice and Professional Indemnity

Speakers – Ar. Jatinder Saigal (New Delhi) & Ar. Madhav Deobhakta (Mumbai)

RESOLUTION PASSED - “Resolved that the Architects Act be suitably amended to restrict the professional

and legal liability of the architects. Further resolved that the Govt. of India be requested to direct the

Insurance Companies to create professional indemnity insurance products for Architects.”

8. Architectural profession, Scale of Fees, and relevant laws

Speakers – Ar. Jose Mathew (Kottayam) & Ar. K. Jaisim (Bangalore)

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RESOLUTION PASSED - “Resolved that the minimum scale of fees as prescribed by Council of

Architecture be implemented for all projects including Government, semi-government, public and private

projects. The Architects Act be suitably amended to prohibit charging less than the prescribed fees.”

9. Amendment in Architects Act to allow for corporate and multidisciplinary practice

Speakers – Ar. Ravi Joshi (Pune) & Ar. Vishwas Kulkarni (Pune)

RESOLUTION PASSED - “Resolved that the Architects Act be suitably amended to allow practice of

architecture by Corporates and multi-disciplinary firms, in line with global practices. However, persons part

of the Corporates and multi-disciplinary firms, responsible for architectural service, must be registered

Architects.”

10. Request to Govt. to reconsider recent bill being tabled in the Rajya Sabha, enforcing changes in

the Architects Act of 1972, infringing on autonomy of the Council of Architecture

RESOLUTION PASSED – "Resolved that the amendments to Architect Act tabled in Rajya Sabha, are

detrimental to interest of architectural profession. This Congress requests the Govt. of India, to reconsider

the amendments, and also incorporate the suggestions given by us"

Unanimous Show of Hands Pass the resolutions Convenor, Ar. Prakash Deshmukh addresses the House

• With the final tabling of resolutions, the event was concluded with a summary of the day’s events and a

vote of thanks towards the large team that made the event a resounding success.

• Once again, the evening was filled with music and merriment and the lawns were full with Architects in

fellowship with each other, happy in the summation of two engaging days of the convention.

A Rock Show enthrals the evening crowd The night is for socialising after 2 days of serious talks

Day 3:

The Convention organisers had also planned two free convention tours on the 3rd day, Sunday. About 200

enthusiastic were given a special guided tour of Suzlon’s world headquarters – “One Earth”, and later in the

afternoon, a tour of Magarpatta City, India’s first true privately developed integrated township.

Documents

Newsletter - IIA MahaCon 2010 - Pune