‘Adopt a Heritage’ draws mixed reactions

The Central government’s move to sign an MOU with a cement manufacturing company for maintenance of Red Fort in Delhi and Gandikota in Andhra Pradesh under ‘Adopt a Heritage Scheme’ has triggered sharp reactions both for and against the step.

“It’s not bad a deal. We have to wait and watch. The monuments are not being handed over to companies as they will only take care of the maintenance while they cannot do anything without consulting the ASI. Their role is limited to signages, lighting and creating amenities. There are oversight and vision committees that will monitor the developments. The money generated from ticket sales goes to an escrow account and there is a rider that the government can cancel the MoU,” said Anuradha Reddy of Indian National Trust for Cultural Heritage, welcoming the step.

Last year, Minister for Culture Mahesh Sharma told the Lok Sabha that the Archaeological Survey of India was unable to locate 24 monuments under its protection. Closer home, the Golconda Fort is overrun by encroachments and a palace complex called Nau Mahal has disappeared. “The 1917 ASI map shows many features and monuments under the protection of ASI. Now, many of the buildings and structures are untraceable,” says ASI Superintending Archaeologist Milan Kumar Chauley.

Under the law, the ASI can issue show cause notices against encroachers under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act 1958 and Rules 1959.

District collectors and magistrates can order removal of such encroachments under the Central law. Recently, the ASI managed to clean up Ashoorkhana near the inner fortification of Golconda, but the encroachments remain a challenge due to political pressures.

“In Telangana, they have removed regulatory protection for heritage sites with the scrapping of Regulation 13 of Hyderabad Urban Metropolitan Area. It would have been understandable if it was done for the buildings in private domain. But even heritage buildings in government control don’t have laws to protect them. The move by the Centre to hand over monuments to private parties is in the same line,” said V.K. Bawa, former HUDA chief.

“Can’t the Indian government afford to maintain one of the most iconic monuments in the country? One that has been at the heart of freedom struggle and is synonymous with the Independence Day address? I sense something sinister in the move. Even in Hyderabad the State government is ignoring heritage and treating it as real estate. This is a short-sighted move that will boomerang in the long run,” said Mr. Bawa.