Last week, many of the city’s heritage lovers were in for a rude shock. The Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee had announced its list of experts, but it lacked the name of a single independent urban planner or a conservation architect. Each member is on the payroll of the government in some form or holds an ex-officio posting.

After the debacle that ensued following the gaffes in the Development Plan, this news has stirred a debate in the fraternity, especially with regards to state projects like Metro III and the Mumbai coastal road.