PM Manmohan Singh seeks private sector's help in preserving heritage monuments

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today invited private sector to work with government agencies in preserving historic monuments and stressed that the responsibility of conserving and restoring heritage works cannot be the sole preserve of the government.

Speaking at the completion ceremony of the conservation of Humayun's Tomb here, he also underlined the need to engage local community in maintaining monuments and said the six-year work at the tomb "provides a model for preservation to the world".

"I think we have found a good model of public-private partnership... It will encourage government and civil societies in similar alliance," he said.

The Aga Khan, Culture Minister Chandresh Kumari Katoch and Dorabji Tata Trust head Ratan Tata shared the dais with the Prime Minister.

Aga Khan Trust for Culture had taken on the restoration project at this UNESCO world heritage site in partnership with Archaeological Survey of India in 2007, while Sir Dorabji Tata Trust co-funded the work.

Humayun's Tomb was completed in 1570. Over 1000 artisans, including those from Uzbekistan, have worked on the monument for six years to restore its original shape lost due to damage and repairs carried out over the years.

Singh said the project created over two lakh man days of employment and gave work to hundreds of master craftsmen.

Terming as "essential" the cooperation of local communities, he said such projects also result in local area development, landscaping and environmental protection.

"The responsibility to conserve and restore (monuments) cannot be sole preserve of government agencies in a country like ours where physical manifestation of our past are numerous," he said.

Improved urban infrastructure in health, education and sanitation would help residents of neighbouring Nizamuddin, Singh said.