Government sparing no effort to get heritage tag for Delhi

NEW DELHI: Delhi is less than six months away from getting a prospective world heritage city tag, and the government is now trying to ensure that all goes well in the scrutiny process by international agencies UNESCO and ICOMOS.

A three-tier management and protection system announced by the government is being closely monitored by lieutenant general Najeeb Jung and chief secretary D M Spolia in which all existing and proposed projects pertaining to the nominated areas of Lutyens' Bungalow Zone and Shahjahanabad are being closely monitored. Three meetings were held last month with stakeholders like DDA, PWD and MCD.

The Delhi chapter of the consultant, Intach, which prepared the nomination dossiers, is manning the third level wherein a dedicated staff of conservationists, architects and planners have been especially asked to help with the planning process as part of an MoU with Delhi Tourism. This level includes projects like streetscaping, garbage clean-up, repair of roads, installing signages etc at Lutyens Bunglow zone and Shahjanabad. These projects are yet to be implemented. It also includes monitoring projects and reporting the same to the upper two levels as well as spreading awareness on heritage through outreach programmes, lectures and walks. Intach is bringing in staff specifically for this purpose. The level will work as "the eyes and ears of civil society".

The second protection level, which is the stakeholders' committee, will involve all agencies like PWD, MCD, DDA and Delhi Police who will work together to ensure that all works are implemented in the prescribed time.

At the highest management level, the chief secretary will regularly monitor and get updates on development in the nominated zones.

"World heritage city nomination is a long-term commitment. We have put a system in place for managing these heritage zones and ensure regular maintenance of the imperial cities of Delhi. Regular monitoring of these zones is also something closely followed by UNESCO,'' an official said.