It is relegated to the back seat. Nobody remembers it in the heat and dust of elections. It not even finds a mention in the manifesto of any party. Heritage, of course, is the last thing candidates would talk about. On the eve of the World Heritage Day, the city monuments present a pathetic sight of neglect and abandon.
Officials admit that bifurcation blues and now the election work have hit the upkeep of monuments. The Heritage Conservation Committee (HCC) has been in limbo for the last one year. The GHMC has also stopped holding its monthly meetings to take stock of the heritage works. This is attributed to lack of interest among top officials of the Corporation. “By not reconstituting the HCC, the government has done great injustice. Now, there is no system of checks and balances,” says Sajjad Shahid, co-convener, INTACH.
The civic body had decided to take up conservation of Moazzam Jahi Market, Nampally Sarai and go for adaptive reuse of the Mahboob Mansion after repairs. But all this remains on paper. “We are unable to safeguard the heritage structures and prevent their demolition,” remarks an official, who is now drafted for election duty.
No wonder UNESCO’s coveted ‘World Heritage Site’ tag remains a distant dream.
