PETALING JAYA — A non-governmental organisation has called for a heritage impact assessment (HIA) study to be conducted on the Vivekananda Ashram site, following a development proposal from the trustees of the ashram.

Badan Warisan executive director Elizabeth Cardosa said the study would establish the cultural, historical, and social, educational significance of the site.

“The assessment will establish why the place is important, which then becomes the basis for evaluating the impact the proposed development will have on the importance,” said Cardosa.

“From here, policies and measures can be developed to mitigate against any possible negative impacts.”

She said the National Heritage Department had made it mandatory for HIAs to be conducted on all developments in the Unesco World Heritage sites in Malacca and George Town, and called for the regulation to be expanded for all new development proposals on heritage buildings.

“These process should also be adopted for proposals which affect traditional communities and heritage neighbourhoods.”

In the third attempt to develop the site, a 23-storey service apartment building has been proposed to be built, with purported artist’s impression showing an eight-floor car park built around and above the ashram itself.

Cardosa expressed concern over the scale of the proposed development which visually dominates and completely encases the existing heritage structure.

“The greatly detrimental impact on the visual setting of the ashram has brought together people from all communities, and walks of life, in opposition to the proposed redevelopment.”