Ramappa temple: Heritage tag done, conservation plan next

Now that Ramappa temple is a world heritage site, the state government needs to fulfil its commitments on a comprehensive conservation and management project by December-end to protect the historic temple.
The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), a UNESCO body that oversees world heritage tags, has in its report, presented to the online extended 44th session of World Heritage Committee, recommended that Telangana should complete by December 2021 the revised comprehensive conservation and management plan committed by it.
Telangana should also establish a clear timeframe and methodology for the completion of the conservation of Ramappa temple. “ICOMOS considers that the integrated management plan, announced for December 2021, should be finalized and integrate a programmed conservation plan for the property (Ramappa) in its wider context and geographical extension as well as dedicated sections for risk preparedness and disaster response and visitor management,” the report said.
Several of the smaller Kakatiya temples, located in the buffer zone, seem at risk of collapsing, the ICOMOS report said adding that the state of conservation of the important elements not currently included in the boundaries have also not been considered. ICOMOS recommended that during further documentation regarding the boundary extension, these and other essential elements in the enlarged property should be included in the revised conservation plan.
“(Ramappa temple) is also affected by inappropriate visitor behaviour (including vandalism and theft) and seasonal festive overcrowding. In the integrated conservation and management plan submitted in February 2020, the State Party (Telangana) describes in more detail the festivals which occur in Rudreshwara Temple as well as its strategies for management of visitor flows. Both these aspects need to be further monitored and results as well as future strategies need to be considered,” the report said.
The UNESCO body has also called upon Telangana to get a risk preparedness plan for all potential natural and anthropogenic disasters and risks which might occur.