From Taj on, keep it all in good company

It’s enough to make a Mughal emperor turn in his grave. Having been hauled up by the Supreme Court for its failure to preserve one of the world’s most famous and cherished monuments, Agra’s Taj Mahal, the UP government has submitted a 250-page ‘vision document ‘ to the court that lists measures to help restore the pollution-stricken mausoleum to health. The measures include getting the Taj fostered by a private or public sector company under the Centre’s ‘Adopt a Heritage’ scheme. Under this programme, a number of edifices, and public spaces like parks and gardens, have been put under the tutelage of corporates, who can then use such places to advertise their contribution to the kitty of social responsibility.

If the Taj is indeed put on the block, its fame could well lead to a bidding war. The resultant publicity could add a fresh impetus to the ‘Adopt a Heritage’ idea and prompt the government to expand it to cover other areas where restoration work is urgently required and the privatisation of which could help the sarkar meet its divestment targets. Indeed, monuments apart, there are a number of other antique relics that have fallen into disrepair and could profitably be hived off to restorative custody. Considering the sorry state of our heritage sites, the first of such lots for auction might be self-evident. Any bids for the Archeological Survey of India?