: The decision to pull Delhi out of the race for UNESCO World Heritage City tag has left history and heritage lovers disappointed.
“It is an anti-climax. All our efforts have come to naught. And to remove it at the last moment is an anomaly,” says INTACH Delhi Convener A.G.K. Menon who led a team in preparing a voluminous dossier for the nomination.
“We worked so hard on it since the conception of the idea. We conducted seminars, workshops, quizzes, and tried to reach out to the young and the old of the city in our bid for the final goal. The government’s decision is heart-breaking,” he told the PTI.
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The Centre on Friday said that the tag, if granted, will put a “lot of restrictions” on carrying out infrastructure works in the National Capital.
But, Menon said, “The area nominated is barely 1.5 per cent of the total Delhi area. It was the pride which we were aiming for through this recognition, but only if decision-makers could understand the value of heritage preservation.”
He added, “The government took this decision without consulting any of the other stakeholders concerned.”
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Former Regional Director (North) of the Archaeological Survey of India, K.K. Muhammed said, “Delhi was seen as India’s effort to get its first world heritage city. And, after Delhi, cities like Varanasi could have followed suit. But, it is so unfortunate that it is out before the race has begun.” —PTI