Officials flatter to deceive?

Will Golconda or Charminar ever figure in Unesco’s World Heritage List? Going by the present state of affairs, it can safely be presumed that nothing of the sort will happen in the next few years.

 Experts from UNESCO’s International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) are set to visit the city in September for a final inspection of the Qtub Shahi heritage — Golconda, Charminar and Qtub Shahi tombs — before preparing the World Heritage List for 2013.

 If officials of the departments concerned make a concerted effort to spruce up the monuments by then, there’s a chance of them figuring in the list.

 The newlyformed high-level special heritage committee is scheduled to meet on July 30 and GHMC officials claim, “all major decisions would be taken soon and completed before September.

” However, the task ahead is simply too much, it seems.  The Charminar Pedestrianisation Project, which has been going on for years, is yet to be finished.

 This even after the GHMC has reportedly shelled out crores! The pending works are expected to be resumed after Ramzan by August-end.

 In other words, officials will have just a few days to complete it before the UNESCO team’s visit.

 As the State Archaeology department faces shortage of funds, the GHMC has come forward to sponsor a major part of the face-lifting of the Qutb Shabi tombs, which is maintained by the department.

 The Archeological Survey of India (ASI) which takes care of the Charminar and Golconda, officials admit, is awaiting allotment of funds from its Director General for carrying out major works, including the proposed subterrain underground toilets near the Charminar.

 As if this is not enough, a senior GHMC official on condition of anonymity revealed, “we are also trying to make a study of conservation activities in other heritage cities like Jaipur, to chalk out a standard specification rate (SSR) ahead of calling tenders.

” He said that the state’s SSR prepared by the Roads and Buildings department is not suitable for conservation of monuments.

 All major decisions would be taken at the first high level special heritage committee meeting on July 30.

 There doesn’t seem to be any urgency among the departments concerned.

 Dr R Krishnaiah, superintending archaeologist, told City Express, “keeping the urgency in mind, certain works like improvement of pathways, painting of fence, introduction of surveillance cameras etc are underway.

 But major conservation works including chemical cleaning and restoration of monuments, providing public convenience at Charminar etc would be taken up only after the allocation of funds from the Director General, ASI.

” State Archeology department on the other hand, has been working out an MOU with the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC), which had earlier visited the city to chalk out a programme for documentation, laying of gardens, conservation of monuments, civic amenities and involving local community under public-private partnership mode.

 “They are visiting us next month, and we are discussing the possibilities,” said a senior official with the State Archaeology department.

 In a recent inspection of these monuments by GHMC, APCPDCL, ASI and State Archaeology department, suggestions including adoption of uniform signage for all shops around the monuments after removing hoardings and flexies, shifting of transformers, underground cabling, demolishing of dilapidated buildings, etc have been proposed.

 Reducing the height of buildings, mainly unauthorised buildings in the neighbourhood that block the skyline of the monuments, is also in the pipeline.

 AP has never made it to the World Heritage List of UNESCO. For the year 2013, the State has recommended the Qutb Shahi heritage- Golconda Fort, Charminar, Qutb Shahi Tombs for the list.