Delhi, in the centenary year of its designation as a capital city, has taken the first serious step towards seeking World Heritage City status from UNESCO. Three years after initiating the exercise, the State government has commenced its active campaign by launching “Delhi: A Heritage City” project and preparing a dossier to back its credentials. Aside from honouring the city in a historical sense and enhancing tourism, the much-sought-after designation could significantly improve the conservation of priceless heritage. Delhi is one of the few metropolitan cities with a high concentration of heritage structures: 155 national monuments and another 1,000 culturally important places. Various historical periods have left their imprint and turned the city into an extraordinary mosaic. Shahjahanabad is a grand example of 17th century Mughal urban planning; Mehrauli, built around the 12th century Qutub Minar, is the oldest urban settlement in the city; and New Delhi or Lutyen's Delhi is an impressive expression of 20th century garden city principles. Sadly, conservation efforts have been neither adequate nor effective. About 14 national monuments have been encroached upon and numerous heritage structures lost; continued neglect has turned Shahjahanabad into a near-slum; and the old bungalows of New Delhi have been in constant danger of being pulled down to make way for multi-storeyed buildings.
If the campaign succeeds — and there is absolutely no reason why it shouldn't — Delhi will become the first Indian city to receive world heritage status. Like the 220 other world heritage cities across the world that have benefited from such designation, Delhi could reorient its conservation plans, moving away from the narrow building-centric approach and looking at protection of larger areas. A wider array of heritage elements such as gardens and squares could be safeguarded and the plan itself could be better integrated with contemporary development plans. To the credit of the Delhi government, the entire city has not been included in its proposal for world heritage status. To begin with, it plans to focus on four important heritage zones: Mehrauli, Shahjahanabad, New Delhi, and Nizamuddin. Each of these areas poses specific challenges and, quite obviously, one solution will not fit all. In the New Delhi zone, preserving the architectural character and open space must be the priority, while in Shahjahanabad the thrust has to be on improving the delivery of urban services and retrofitting housing stock. It is only by being inclusive and enabling cities to become better places to live in that conservation can succeed.
Keywords: Delhi, World Heritage city, UNESCO, 17th century, Mughal urban planning
I really appreciate steps taken by government in seeking world heritage status for Delhi from UNESCO.The historical important places in Delhi depicts the architectural beauty and india's rich past.as a initial step in for this we should look into the cleanliness of the city.monuments should be maintained properly.slums should be kept clean.the water bodies like Yamuna should be maintained pollution free.totally the city should be fresh and clean.Thus the project Delhi-A heritage city will be a great success.
The editorial is a blessing in disguise for some guys in government to spend a few lakh crores of rupees in the name of Delhi development as done during commonwealth games. But can we make Delhi or any Indian city clean,tidy and absolutely trash-free with best roads, traffic signals & signs like New York or Detroit? These days, air in India is polluted causing respiratory problems to many. It is hightime for planning commission and implementing agencies to deliver only best results so that great Indian heritage is not compromised.
I am feeling fortunate as a Delhite,to find my city in the UNESCO's list of 'World Heritage Cities'.Wonderful attempts have been made to make it a heaven ,but there is no end to perfection.These laudable efforts must be recognized with further scope of improvement in them.A Penny and a Penny make many -So,our first duty as an Indian is to strain our nerve to make Delhi a heaven.
Howsoever Govt may try to convince UNESCO to declare Delhi 'the World Heritage City', the strange fact is that India's Capital does not deserve to be called so. Delhi's monuments have been poorly maintained & none of the civic or government agencies has made even the minimum efforts to protect the monuments. Except foreign tourists, most of our own countrymen dont frequent historical places & even dont feel proud in having them. Further, successive governments have been so callous not to improve the general living conditions and, instead, have allowed the situation to go out of control. See the awful & shameful condition of River Yamuna. Also, public opinion has not been created to inculcate better civic sense & even the limited green areas in the city are poorly kept. Lack of hygiene & security are other aspects which go against Delhi. Unless Delhi can boast of clean air, quality drinking water & orderly traffic, it cannot aspire to the World Heritage City status.
People spit pan every where,and make monuments in a bad shape- government is not imposing fine
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