Days after twoffffff century-old shrines were razed to the ground in Puri as part of a demolition drive around the Shree Jagannath Temple, the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has offered help to restore heritage structures in the beach town. The organization, in a memorandum to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, said the religious structures bear "sacred significance and are an integral part of Jagannath culture". The Mutts of Puri, unlike those in the rest of the country, have a symbiotic relationship with the temple and the deities, and have important roles to play in the daily ceremonies and yearly rituals including the world famous Rath Yatra,” it said on Wednesday. Patnaik has recently announced a Rs 765-crore special package for developing the temple town into a world heritage site. The government, in its attempt to secure the Jagannath temple, has also decided to evict people and demolish all structures within 75-metre radius of its boundary wall. Two shrines were pulled down last month and five more are in the pipeline, official sources said. Welcoming the initiative being undertaken by the state, the memorandum highlighted the "abject loss of heritage due to demolition of the ancient structures".

These monuments are part of the Odisha’s golden heritage. The mutts (shrines) are witnesses of our past glory and grandeur. They are the proven records of antiquity, but have fallen victims to the neglect of the owners, caretakers, rendering them unsafe. “INTACH has undertaken major restoration work in Odisha. With modern conservation techniques, many of these old structures (in Puri) can be restored," it insisted. Anil Dhir, a member of INTACH, suggested that the ancient structures should "at least be digitized in a 3-D format” before demolition. “All artifacts and collectibles from these heritage structures should be preserved in a special museum, which will highlight the culture and glory of this pilgrim town,” he added.

- https://odishatv.in/odisha/intach-offers-help-to-restore-heritage-structures-in-puri-397873, September 3, 2019

The Odisha chapter of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) today said loss of heritage in the ongoing demolition around the Sri Jagannat temple, are an integral part of the Jagannath culture. Some of the structures now being demolished for the safety and security of the temple could be conserved as these old religious places bear sacred significance and are an integral part of the Jagannath culture,INTACH members said. In a letter to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik , they said the INTACH had successfully undertaken many restoration projects of dilapidated monuments in the State including the Jobra Workshop which was converted into the Maritime Museum and offered INTACH’S expertise to conserve the structures at Puri.

The members said many of the smaller structures can be cleared of commercial and human use, and can be stand alone monuments. These structures form a part of the proposed Parikrama, and will add grandeur to the complex. They further said heritage preservation as an integral contributor to the economic, social and cultural well-being of the holy city of Puri. The INTACH members suggested that keeping the existing parameter of 75 meters in view it may be examined if there is any scope to save some structures and take up their conservation. Welcoming the State government’s initiative being undertaken for the safety and security of the temple and its periphery, the letter said the Mutts of Puri, unlike those in the rest of the country, have a symbiotic relationship with the temple and the deities, and have important roles to play in the daily ceremonies and annual rituals including the world famous Rath Yatra. The members said those monuments are the heritage of the golden period of Odia history. The Mutts are the witnesses of “our past glory and grandeur".

They are the proven records of antiquity, but have fallen victims to the neglect of the owners, caretakers, rendering them unsafe. They suggested to the Chief Minister to have a 3-D Visual record of the monuments and structures prior to their demolition. A proper inventory of the artefacts, records, manuscripts and sculptures be made and arrangements for the conservation of all such important relics be undertaken. They said these can be later kept in a special museum, which will showcase the heritage and history of the old town. The Memorandum was signed by Dr. Biswajit Mohanty, Anil Dhir, Dr.D.P.Pattanayak, Sanjib Chandra Hota, Dr. Bimalendu Mohanty, Binode Padhi and S.K.B.Narayan.

- http://www.uniindia.com/heritage-demolished-around-sri-jagannath-temple-could-be-saved-and-preserved-intach/east/news/1714701.html, September 3, 2019

Concluding the three-day celebration of 'Virasat-e-Mehrauli' on a melodic and vibrant note, 'Mehrauli Monsoon Festival' witnessed the mesmerising performance of renowned Bollywood composer and singer Javed Ali. Delhiites actively participated in the heritage and ecological walks as well as the art and sculpting workshops during the day. The festival saw performances by renowned artists such as qutbi brothers, Kashish Mittal, Rani Khanam & group, Shaswati Mandol, and Indira and Sanket Nayek over the past three days. The first of its kind festival, came to an end but has successfully ignited a curiosity in visitors about Mehrauli and its heritage, while the residents have found newer reasons to be proud and protective of the heritage that surrounds them.

Starting early on a pleasant morning with a walk on traditional water bodies of Mehrauli led by historian Sohail Hashmi, saw a large group of people in attendance.

"Many opted to attend the other walks as well in order to further explore the different aspects of Mehrauli. Kids across ages, thronged to the fountain to make the best of the last day of the Art & Sculpting workshops," he said. S P Singh, a resident of Lado Sarai, stated, "I have been actively reading and working about Mehrauli's monuments since the early 1970s. The way this area and the venues have been prepared; the cultural programmes organised gives a lot of boost to Mehrauli.

Where once I could barely sit, I now wish to spend more time in Jharna." Maan Sigh Dagar, another visitor said "I am visiting this place after five decades, and I am immensely happy to see the initiatives taken to emphasize on Mehrauli. As an artist and teacher, myself, it eases me to see that the younger generations are getting to experience and learn about art, culture and heritage." The evening heritage walk around Mehrauli village was led by Dr Swapna Liddle, Convener-INTACH Delhi Chapter, which brought to light the context of how Delhi's oldest city had come to be what it is today.

Over the past three days, over 150 people have attended the walks, over 200 people per day, have attended the workshops on art and sculpting with an overall footfall of over 20,000 people has been noted during the festival On Saturday, an evening programme comprised of an awe-inspiring line up of renowned classical music artists like Kashish Mittal and Shaswati Mandol at Jahaz Mahal. Continuing the series of enthralling performances, the evening was concluded with a foot tapping set of Fusion Music performed by the prolific duo of Indira Nayek and Sanket Nayek.

Visitors across age groups participated in the painting and sculpting workshops, keen to explore their artistic side. The art exhibition curated by Kishore Labar, gathered huge appreciation as it depicted a unique side of the city. Spell-binding performances by local artists, Puppet shows, stalls and games for children made Aam Bagh a fun filled affair for the visitors. The festival was inaugurated on Friday by Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.

- https://www.dailypioneer.com/2019/state-editions/3-day----virasat-e-mehrauli----celebration-concludes.html, September 3, 2019

It carries histories of many rulers, kings and queens, princes and princesses, warriors, saints, generals, wazirs and soldiers. Even certain pre-historic tales and that from the Pandavas. While some also recall it as a place that’s witness to the glory of Prithiviraj Chauhan, some recall his defeat to Mohammad Ghori and later, occupied by the Tughlaqs and Khiljis. The numerous monuments and the architectural and historical insights they provide, make Mehrauli a distinguished and one of the oldest heritage cities in the capital. In a bid to boost the oldest of Delhi’s seven historic cities and making it a prominent spot on the capital’s tourist map, Delhi Travel and Tourism Development Corporation (DTTDC) organised a first-ever Mehrauli Monsoon Festival in association with the Government of Delhi. To revive its deep-rooted history, a few Virasat-e-Mehrauli walks through the rustic tombs, pillared monuments and broken ceilings were conducted, which teleported the audience to the history. These walks enabled the visitors to explore the city and its traditional water bodies closely.

Dr Swapna Liddle, convener, INTACH Delhi Chapter and leader of the walks, felt that this was the ideal time to visit Mehrauli and so it was scheduled at such a time. Since the walk focussed on the tradition associated with Mehrauli, she talked about how it has been experienced by people down the centuries. She said, “There has been a tradition very deeply embedded in the city which hails from the 18th and the 19th century, when people used to visit this place a lot as it connected them to its culturally rich roots. But today, things have changed. There are very minimal visitors and tourists who want to explore this place.

So why not call them again?" Starting from Adham Khan’s tomb and the Zafar Mahal, the explorers walked till the Qutubuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki’s Dargah and till Hauz-e-Shamsi and the Jharna, which made for a great trail to understand Delhi’s evolution from Mehrauli. The heritage trip did not end here. It also featured painting and sculpting workshops that engaged visitors by giving them a deeper insight into the rich artistic lineage of the city. SP Singh, a resident of Lado Sarai, said, “I have been actively reading and working about Mehrauli’s monuments since the early 1970s. The way this area and the venues have been prepared and the cultural programmes are organised, it gives a lot of boost to Mehrauli. Where once I could barely sit, I now wish to spend more time.” Another visitor, Maan Sigh Dagar said that he was visiting the place after five decades and is immensely happy by the initiatives taken to revive its attraction. "As an artist and teacher, I am delighted to see that the younger generation is getting to experience and learn about art, culture and heritage,” said he. Arvind Passey, a blogger on travel, tech books and lifestyle, said, “It is an absolutely charming walk, simply because it is full of history and stories. The guide who was sharing the stories made it so attractive that a person like me has the urge to go home and read more about the history of Mehrauli.

It’s great how these walks encourage people to know more about the history of their own city.” Vaishnavi Sharma, a young resident of Mehrauli, added, “I have been living in Mehrauli since years yet was unaware of the history of the structures dotted around the village. To know that I reside in Delhi’s oldest and earliest cities and to be surrounded with such monuments makes me feel special.” To add more charm to the celebration, the last day of the festival saw a melodic performance by music composer Javed Ali followed. From his Bollywood hits to soulful Sufi songs, he had the audience enthralled. People soaked themselves in the music with love and waved hands as they enjoyed the evening. He was happy being a part of the festival as it promoted art in various forms — literature, poetry and music. He said, “When art is promoted, be it in any form, its results are splendid. This initiative by the Delhi government is fabulous.” The singer believes that the heritage of India is its strength and “I value it a lot. And for a fact, every Indian should do it too.” Javed was keen to know the festival’s impact on youth as he felt that if it connects to them, it would be a great start. “It is very important for the younger generation to be aware and stay connected to the identity of our nation and its values,” he added. He has been performing music in different genres to cater to all sorts of audience.

So how challenging has it been to maintain a balance while switching genres? “This comes naturally to me. I would say, a god’s gift (Laughs). The only challenge is to create the vibe in sync with the song. When I perform romantic songs, it demands that kind of vibe and when I perform Sufi, the vibe is totally different.” The digital media has paved way for enormous music online. YouTube videos are gaining huge popularity and the channels have become a platform for competition for budding artists. Javed said, “Technology is gaining pace everywhere and people should utilise it. Earlier, people used to dream about singing in films as it was the only way to get popular and showcase talent but the online media has provided a face to everyone who creates their own content.” Though he seemed impressed by the idea of online music but he agreed to the fact that dubs videos and other such false means is also “diluting” the essence of music. Creating remakes of old blockbusters is topping the trends today. And they have also always been a point of controversy as on one side, there are people who like newer beats while on the other, people want to retain the essence of traditional music in its original form. Does he think that better and original music was made during that time?

"Undoubtedly, yes. We can not even touch the original creations of music but people of the current generation would like to hear new sounds. So recreations are important too to keep them alive and reviving.” The festival was inaugurated by Manish Sisodia, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister, Government of Delhi. The heritage walks were a part of Mehrauli since long but it is the first time that it has broadened itself in the form of a festival. The tourism department also plans on conducting heritage walks and art workshops at the place throughout the year, to create awareness of the history of Mehrauli. The three-day monsoon festival saw an overall footfall of around 20,000 people. Apart from cultural events, music concerts and heritage walks, it also featured delicacies typically associated with monsoon.

- https://www.dailypioneer.com/2019/vivacity/reviving-the-treasure.html, September 3, 2019

Lord Gugga is revered by both the Hindu and the Muslim communities, and though originally a Rajput himself, he is said to even have practised both religions. Most of us living in urban areas of Gurugram are not aware of the famous festival falling in the Hindu month of Bhadra (August-September) called Gugga Naumi, which has been celebrated in Gurugram and surrounding regions of Haryana for centuries. Gugga Naumi is a celebration held in reverence of snakes.

This religious celebration is commended all around Haryana in the period of August and September, and even celebrated in some other parts of north and west India, including Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab. The Gurgaon District Gazetteer of India mentions its celebration in various towns of the Gurgaon district namely, Gurugram, Farrukhnagar, Pataudi, Nanu kalan, Gurarora and Islampur, besides Bissar, Akbarpur, Rethaura and Hathin in the surrounding districts.

The Gugga Naumi festival held in Farrukhnagar at Khurampur Khera last week was elaborately organised by the local committee and included several wrestling (dangal) competitions with participants from nearby villages. Fairs are held in all surrounding villages around Gugga’s shrine every year on the day of Gugga Naumi. Locals who believe in Gugga and who are not able to attend the fair or visit his shrine even go out to find snake holes where they offer kacchchi lassi and sewian. Architecturally, Gugga’s shrine can be distinguished in the village areas as a square shaped shrine with minarets on four sides and a dome in the central area. It is called Mari as also mentioned in the Gurgaon Gazetteer.

Various pujas and processions are organised on this day in Gugga Mari temples. Gugga Katha, stories about his birth and life as well as his valour, are narrated as part of the puja. It is also said that some devotees take the earth from the area around Gugga’s shrine and keep it in their houses as it is said to provide protection from snakes. This religious festival is associated with snake worship on Krishnapaksha, 9th day of Bhadra month usually falling nine days after the festival of Rakhi. It fell on August 25 this year. Some Hindu devotees also untie their rakhis or raksha sutra on the 9th day and then tie it to Lord Gugga as an assurance of protection from any injury or harm. Hence, it also has a strong association with the Rakhi festival. Several stories related to Gugga are linked with this festival.

He is called as Gugga Pir by some, and Zahir Pir by others or even Baggarwala by few more who associate him with Bagar near Ganganagar in Rajasthan where he said to have ruled in the 12th century. He is revered by both the Hindu and Muslim communities in these areas and though originally a Rajput himself, he is said to even have practised both religions during his lifetime as per the gazetteer. The name may refer to as Gugga Bir (Veer meaning hero) or Gugga Pir (Pir meaning saint). He is said to have an extraordinary power of curing dangerous snake bites. Such festivals are significant part of Gurugram’s intangible heritage. While their practice and relevance in urban life may not be much, they need to be recorded and documented in detail as part of our folklore and history.

INTACH’s intangible heritage division is focusing on documenting this intangible heritage of Gurugram and Haryana as part of a nationwide initiative to map the country’s intangible heritage.

Oral recordings and video recordings of such local festivals are extremely important and provide valuable, authentic records for Gurugram’s cultural heritage. (Shikha Jain is state convener, INTACH Haryana Chapter and member of Heritage Committees under ministries of culture and HRD. She is co-­editor of book ‘Haryana: Cultural Heritage Guide’, and director, DRONAH (Development and Research Organisation for Nature, Arts and Heritage)

- https://www.hindustantimes.com/gurugram/festivals-fairs-significant-part-of-gurugram-s-intangible-heritage/story-wpfIWynFd2ynxl8KBsklOL.html, September 3, 2019

ASI recently began the restoration of the age-old wall art located on its sixth floor of Leh Palace. Skillfull hands are carefully chipping away extraneous elements and adroitly removing graffiti to reveal the original beauty of age-old murals in 17th century-era Leh Palace as part of a painstaking restoration work currently underway at the monument.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which maintains the famed palace nestled in the mountains of Ladakh, recently began the restoration of the age-old wall art located on its sixth floor, officials said. “The murals are made of natural colours, and that is one of the reasons it has survived the ravages of time and inharmonious interventions over the decades. It is perhaps the first time such an extensive restoration on murals have been taken up in the last 30 years or so at Leh," a senior ASI official told PTI.

The official, part of the core team of eight members working on the preservation, said, the murals had been defaced by visitors with graffiti, some of which date back to late 1960s. "About two weeks ago, the project began at the palace. Experts in chemical techniques have come from Chennai, Indore and Agra, assisted by other local staff members and labourers.

The layering of extraneous elements, like plaster work had to be carefully removed,” he said. An architectural masterpiece and an engineering feat of the Namgyal dynasty, the second dynasty of Ladakhi rulers, it was built in Tibetan style with materials such as stones, sun-dried mud bricks, woods of poplar, juniper and willow procured from different areas of Leh, according to the ASI. "The construction of the palace was completed in a short span of only three years during the reign of Senge Namgyal (c. 1590-1635), the most illustrious king of Ladakh. The palace, overlooking the Leh city, has nine levels and an exquisite entrance gateway,” it said. Asked about the design and span of the murals, the ASI official said, the paintings are spread across the walls measuring an area of about 32 sqm. “As per the design, these murals done in a series of sorts, depict Buddhist symbols, like the spinning wheel, flowers and other religious motifs. It is beautiful, and people of Leh, who are rejoicing creation of a UT, are also delighted to see the old glory of the palace murals being brought back,” he said. Sources said the restoration work is likely to be completed by mid-September. Ladakh will assume a new identity of a Union Territory on October 31. The palace is being maintained by ASI’s Leh Mini Circle, constituted some years ago. Earlier it fell under Srinagar Circle of the ASI. On being asked if there is any documented work on these arts, the ASI official said, “No documentation as such is there but we are taking reference of ancient Tibetan Thangkas, which are also painted with natural colours".

He said an ASI team had worked on a restoration project some years ago at Thiksey Monastery in Thiksey area of Leh district, one of the most iconic buildings in Ladakh. The Leh Palace comprises nine levels with over 100 rooms, however, purpose of only few of considerable importance are known. The rooms in the lower level served for use by staff, servants, and as storage silos. “The palace is entered through an elaborately embellished wooden portico gate, known as Singe-sgo (the lion gate) at level two. At level four is a large open courtyard known as Khatok Chenmo, a platform for social and cultural activities of the royal family, as well as a royal shrine. “The minister and other members were addressed by the king in the hall of audience on level five and the living quarters for royal family were reserved on level six,” reads the ASI plaque near the entrance. The palace was in a ruined state when the ASI declared it as a Monument of National Importance in 1982. Since then, the ASI has carried out restoration and conservation work in a phased manner to revive the glory of the palace, visited by a large number of tourists daily.

- https://www.hindustantimes.com/it-s-viral/archaeological-survey-of-india-restores-age-old-murals-of-17th-century-leh-palace/story-shf9TjkRpz27P51hkNpQOI.html, September 3, 2019

The floor of a channel paved with burnt bricks thought to be the continuation of a similar structure excavated by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in 2016, has been identified by the Tamil Nadu State Archaeology department in the fifth phase of exploration underway now. Archaeology department sources said that there was a chance that the channel with a breadth of about one meter is the extension of a tank excavated by the ASI, which was connected to a tank.

Chances are that this channel that extends for a long distance, they said adding that they would have to continue their was a chance that the channel with a breadth of about one meter is the extension of a tank excavated by the ASI, which was connected to a tank. Chances are that this channel that extends for a long distance, they said adding that they have to continue their excavations whatsoever. As this phase of excavation is expected to end by September 30, this year, the possibilities of their having time to continue for the entire distance is remote, they said.

Even the excavation of this channel to its entire distance could provide a full picture of the inhabitation in this site they said. Keeladi has not failed to enthral its excavators this time too like it did in the previous four excavations with many interesting aspects continuing to be found.

Another finding was a terracotta hose-like structure, and a brick with a posthole, in an intact form. “Bricks with postholes, into which poles might have been inserted, say a lot about the architectural and construction expertise of these people, and two poles have also been found near the place where the brick was found,’’ sources said. They said that the poles were inserted into bricks to further strengthen the brick structures. While the earlier excavations have revealed many artefacts like ornaments worn by men and women, this time they had found a pair of identical pendant like terracotta items with a star engraved on them, which, archaeologists believe, may have been a pair earring worn by someone. A carnelian bead, with a wild boar engraved like a mirror image, which when stamped produces an embossed image of the boar, was also found a few days ago.

- https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/trichy/ancient-channel-with-burnt-brick-flooring-found-at-keeladi-in-5th-phase-of-excavation/articleshow/70984696.cms, September 4, 2019

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a collection of 17 global goals for the year 2030 set by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015. Of these, 11 goals have direct linkages to water. The Union government has identified 130 wetlands in the country to be restored in the next five years, while to speed up the process, the Centre has asked the states to send an integrated management plan by October 15, a senior official said on Thursday. According to the Union government publication National Wetland Atlas, India has 7.5 lakh wetlands. "The initiative will be carried out with local involvement. Each wetland will be issued a health card, which will denote its health.

Apart from this, wetland `mitras` (friends) will be appointed for every marsh," Environment Ministry Joint Secretary Manju Pandey said here at a panel discussion at the fourteenth session of the Conference of Parties (CoP) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a collection of 17 global goals for the year 2030 set by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015. Of these, 11 goals have direct linkages to water. The wetlands are vital to be protected as India has lost 83 per cent of its biodiversity from fresh water since 1980. Wetland is a land area that is saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally. This definition brings ponds, lakes, estuarines, reservoirs, creeks, mangroves and many more water bodies under the ambit of wetlands.

The Founder and Director of the Centre for Inland Waters South Asia, Brij Gopal, said that the threat to wetlands started during the British era. "The British treated wetlands as waste lands. The importance of wetlands is such that the Supreme Court and National Green Tribunal have directed that even a half hectare of these have to be protected. The wetlands are also important for the water security," he said. As per estimates, 15 per cent of India`s flora and 18 per cent of the country`s fauna comes from the fresh water. It is estimated that if the shallow waters disappear, 80 per cent of the insect population will become extinct. Manu Bhatnagar, Principal Director, Natural Heritage Division, Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) noted that the value of land has shot up immensely since 1991. "Everybody wants a piece of land, but not a land with water.

The country has had three water management policies but they do not address the problem of basin management," he said, adding that for benefits in the long-term, those encroaching on wetlands should be compensated and shifted elsewhere. Written By: IANS Code on Wages Bill 2019 introduced in Lok Sabha today; Check details here Code on Wages Bill 2019 introduced in Lok Sabha today; Check details here Bureaucratic reshuffle: Government appoints 33 new Joint SecretariesBureaucratic reshuffle: Government appoints 33 new Joint Secretaries Carried out a cash transaction of Rs 2 lakh or more in 1 day? Income Tax dept will slap a penalty on youCarried out a cash transaction of Rs 2 lakh or more in 1 day? Income Tax dept will slap a penalty on you Budget 2019 expectations: This move for NBFCs can help realty buyers get their home on timeBudget 2019 expectations: This move for NBFCs can help realty buyers get their home on time Centre to inject Rs 42,000 crore in state-run banks by MarchCentre to inject Rs 42,000 crore in state-run banks by March The Union government has identified 130 wetlands in the country to be restored in the next five years, while to speed up the process, the Centre has asked the states to send an integrated management plan by October 15, a senior official said on Thursday. According to the Union government publication National Wetland Atlas, India has 7.5 lakh wetlands. "The initiative will be carried out with local involvement. Each wetland will be issued a health card, which will denote its health. Apart from this, wetland `mitras` (friends) will be appointed for every marsh," Environment Ministry Joint Secretary Manju Pandey said here at a panel discussion at the fourteenth session of the Conference of Parties (CoP) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a collection of 17 global goals for the year 2030 set by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015. Of these, 11 goals have direct linkages to water. The wetlands are vital to be protected as India has lost 83 per cent of its biodiversity from fresh water since 1980. Wetland is a land area that is saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally. This definition brings ponds, lakes, estuarines, reservoirs, creeks, mangroves and many more water bodies under the ambit of wetlands. The Founder and Director of the Centre for Inland Waters South Asia, Brij Gopal, said that the threat to wetlands started during the British era. "The British treated wetlands as waste lands. The importance of wetlands is such that the Supreme Court and National Green Tribunal have directed that even a half hectare of these have to be protected. The wetlands are also important for the water security," he said. As per estimates, 15 per cent of India`s flora and 18 per cent of the country`s fauna comes from the fresh water. It is estimated that if the shallow waters disappear, 80 per cent of the insect population will become extinct.

Manu Bhatnagar, Principal Director, Natural Heritage Division, Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) noted that the value of land has shot up immensely since 1991. "Everybody wants a piece of land, but not a land with water. The country has had three water management policies but they do not address the problem of basin management," he said, adding that for benefits in the long-term, those encroaching on wetlands should be compensated and shifted elsewhere. Deepika Ghosh Saxena of IDEATE suggested that the government, in its conservation efforts, should make use of knowledge that exists with the resilient communities such as those of Rajasthan. India is hosting COP 14 to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) here from September 2 to 13, to tackle the issue of land degradation. Nearly 8,000 delegates from 196 countries are participating in this event, which is holding deliberations on finding viable solutions to the growing challenges of desertification, land degradation and drought.

- https://www.zeebiz.com/india/news-government-to-restore-130-wetlands-across-the-country-in-next-5-years-109982, September 5, 2019

The Department of Archaeology, Museums and Heritage will embark on a survey to map and document nearly 25,000 historical structures in Karnataka to update the list of protected monuments. The exercise is likely to span nearly three years and involve private agencies. Venkatesh, Director, Department of Archaeology, told The Hindu that at present there are 844 monuments in Karnataka declared as “protected” under the Karnataka Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1961, but the list was prepared decades ago. This is in addition to 608 Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)-protected monuments. The list has to be updated to incorporate monuments that merit protection on the basis of their architectural and historical importance, but are yet to be notified as protected under the State Act, he said. Manpower issue The mapping exercise covering about 25,000 monuments across the State will also provide information on their current status and whether they have been encroached upon, said Mr. Venkatesh. He said the department does not have the requisite manpower, and apart from involving private agencies, it would also rope in history departments of various universities, research scholars, including PhD students for the task. The historically important structures could include kalyanis, temples, forts, tombs, towers etc. of considerable architectural merit. “Once the revised data base is ready, it will be used to prepare a priority list and an action plan to take up conservation measures,” said Mr. Venkatesh. Karnataka has the second highest number of monuments of historical significance after Uttar Pradesh, and many of them are under the Muzrai Department as well.

Greater number

However, N.S. Rangaraju, convener, INTACH Mysuru, said the State has no less than 35,000 to 40,000 monuments at a conservative estimate, and the State Archaeological Department was slow in its exercise to map, document, and update the list. He said revising the list was imperative to ascertain their present status, which can be determined only through field visits and physical verification. The exercise will also help demarcate the boundary of the land and the precincts where the monument are located and help the department establish its hold over the area which is not the case at present in many places, said Mr. Rangaraju. “In the absence of any notification, many monuments have been dismantled and have disappeared over the years though they are mentioned in texts,” he added. A senior official in the Archaeology Department said the imperatives of documenting and mapping the monuments stems from the increase in encroachment in the absence of clarity in demarcating the land boundary.

For consolidation

The exercise will help consolidate both the protected and the unprotected structures and help in their conservation in the long term, said Mr. Rangaraju. Further delay in surveying the monuments would increase the risk of encroachments and disappearance of the monuments given the growing pressure on land, he added. In addition to monuments, prehistoric sites have to be protected as they tend to be acquired for housing, agriculture, among others, said Mr. Rangaraju.

- https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/mapping-of-25000-monuments-to-begin-soon/article29419805.ece, September 16, 2019

The recently concluded three-day Mehrauli Monsoon festival saw five heritage walks taking place in Mehrauli. The walks were dedicated for rediscovering the popular tourist spots and monuments as well as exploring the not-so-frequented heritage sites of Delhi. Organised by INTACH and supported by Delhi Tourism, while some walks took participants to monuments and baolis, others took up explaining ecology with heritage. The food, music, art, and architecture of Mehrauli were also discussed during these walks.

- https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/entertainment/events/delhi/monsoon-heritage-walks-bring-alive-the-history-and-ecology-of-mehrauli/videoshow/71126637.cms, September 16, 2019

Seeking to engage the people with architectural legacy and the forgotten stories of the past, a new heritage app is all set to be launched on Tuesday that will allow them to "digitally interact" with Delhi''s cultural landmarks. The app -- ''Safarnama'' -- is endowed with an "enormous range of material" drawn from archives in India and abroad, said Deborah Sutton, the principal investigator of the project. "From conception to execution, the project has taken us nearly two years, and the app uses the GPS location of the phone to pinpoint the heritage buildings nearby it with a small notification that pops up once in the vicinity," Sutton told PTI. She said the idea of such an app is to make people engage with history and heritage on a daily basis and on the go. The Android-based app, available on Google Play, has two components -- Delhi Partition City and Ghadar se Azadi Tak -- spanning the period from 1857-1947. "After downloading the app, a user will need to scan QR codes available on customised postcards which we have designed for the project. After scanning, the user would be able to access the archival material pre-loaded in the app," said Sutton, who is from Lancaster University in the UK. The material has been drawn from the Delhi State Archives, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, British Library, University of Michigan repository, Library of Congress in the US, Times of India archives, among other sources, she said. "The idea is to enhance the digital heritage experience with audio-visual aid and pictures embedded in the app. So, if a user is walking through Chandni Chowk and happens to be nearby Begum Samru''s Palace, he or she will get a pop-up notification," Sutton said. "Quite often we walk past a place but don''t know the layers of history that lie behinds it. Also, in many cases old buildings have either been renamed, re-purposed or rebuilt after demolition. So this app essentially creates a sense of curiosity among people about the city''s heritage," she said. So, many people walking on the Rajpath or Janpath almost regularly wouldn''t know they were originally called Kingsway and Queensway respectively, or the story behind those names. The app with its archival bank enhances the knowledge and experience of users, Sutton said. In many cases, the old buildings have been demolished but the legend and the story survived. So, the app gives a peep into that "forgotten or erased past" too, with the help of archives, she said. The project was supported by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, the UK and Lancaster University, she said. The partners in the project included, INTACH Delhi Chapter, 1947 Archives, and Centre for Community Knowledge at Ambedkar University in Delhi, said Sutton, who has a PhD in History from the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). The Ghadar se Azadi Tak segment deals with the 1857 Mutiny, creation of new imperial capital of New Delhi (from 1911-1931) and its growth till 1947 when India earned Independence. Sutton said, people are busy with their daily lives and so the app seeks to engage them with their surrounding landmarks. "So, people going to office, or transiting from one place to another in a cab, or travelling to airport, these are the moments when the app will alert them if they are travelling past an old monument or take them to the stories associated with these landmarks," the researcher said. If a user has chosen 1947 Partition City segment on the app, and travelling past Purana Quila, then a notification will come up to inform that refugees from Pakistan had sought shelter here right after the bloody Partition, she said. "We are launching the app on Tuesday in Delhi and soon we will decide where all these QR-code postcards will be available. Also, this is a first version of the app and we invite suggestions from people to improve it or point mistakes if any," Sutton said. "The primary idea is that a person can be made aware of heritage not just during a heritage walk but can also be engaged during day-to-day lives as well," she said. PTI KND TIR TIR

- https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/safarnama-new-app-to-let-people-engage-with-heritage-on-the-go/1619319, September 16, 2019

A day after the high court struck down the state government’s decision to demolish Irrum Manzil, heritage experts called for repair and restoration of the structure. One of the key petitioners in the case, Asghar Husain, said that the palace is in a poor state and restoration is a priority. Husain is also the great-grandson of Nawab Safdar Jung Fakhrul Mulk Musheer-ud-daula, who built Irrum Manzil. Built in 1870, the palace was used to host royal banquets and festivals because of which it had large halls. Over the years, these spaces have been compartmentalised to make way for small offices being used by government officials at present. The removal of temporary partitions, said Husain, is one of the first steps that need to be taken to restore the palace to its original plan. “Fakhrul Mulk built the palace to serve the state, but little did he know that the state itself would neglect this structure,” he said. Shedding light on the original plan of the palace, Anuradha Reddy, Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), Hyderabad convenor, said, “It was built for a residence on a scale that incorporated public, private and zanana rooms. The rooms that have been partitioned into small officesmust be reopened to their original sizes after a detailed inspection is carried out and emergency maintenance is done.” The ‘Building structural condition assessment report’ released by INTACH in July states that the sub-structure and superstructure of the building are structurally sound, but the present state of the building is a ‘mere result of negligence and modifications which were done before repairs and strengthening of building with improper sequence of execution using improper repair and maintenance.’ SP Anchuri, structural engineer involved with conservation efforts, said that though the structure requires minor repairs, they need to be done immediately. “At several places, the plaster is peeling off, there is water-logging and overgrown vegetation,” he said. Speaking on the potential of the palace, he said that it could be on a par with Falaknuma Palace after proper renovation. Experts suggest that several uses to which Irrum Manzil could be put to include creation of a museum or cultural centre, or for holding classes for girls. Another option, they said, would be to give it out on lease for a heritage hotel. “The ideal combination would require government as well as community involvement,” said Husain.

- https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/heritage-experts-want-irrum-manzil-restored/articleshow/71174901.cms, September 17, 2019

A heritage walk to Trilochan Mahadev on 18 August was coordinated by Anurag Chandra and Monika Malhotra. Despite a cloudy morning the group visited the older area of city, and the ancient temples that are associated with interesting mythological and mostly visited by local devotees. The Kameshwar Mahadev Temple main shrine is a Shivlinga. In the same premises the Khakholda Adtiya Temple has the statue of Sun God. Next to it is a statue of Narsingh and statue of Prahlad. There were other interesting temples in the premises. It once had a huge tree in the center which provided shade to the whole area in days of sweltering heat. The Trilochan Mahadev is a short walk away. The main shrine here too is Shivlinga. It is said that that when Lord Shiva first came to Kashi, he resided here before proceeding to Omkareshevara. The walk ended at the breakfast destination next to Kal Bhairav Temple. The authentic and delicious food regularly attracts large number of pilgrims.

- http://chapter.intach.org/pdf/vraanasi-chapter-18aug2019.pdf, September 17, 2019

At the HT Tourism Conclave, visionaries from the tourism industry will discuss strategies that will change the way we think tourism. The HT Tourism Conclave is set to take place on Friday, September 20 at the Hyatt Regency in New Delhi. HT Tourism Conclave is a unique initiative that brings together illustrious minds, visionaries and government representatives from the tourism industry to discuss strategies and growth drivers that will not only translate into meaningful changes but also reshape the way we think tourism. Prahlad Singh Patel, Minister of State (independent charge) for the Ministry of Tourism will be giving the keynote address for the event. He is a Member of the Indian Parliament from Damoh Loksabha Constituency in Madhya Pradesh. He was born in Narsinghpur and is an advocate by profession.

Aman Nath

Aman Nath is involved in the restoration of India’s unlisted architectural ruins, now run as the Neemrana ‘non-hotel’ Hotels, which have won awards from UNESCO, the Indian travel trade industry and National Awards. Aman Nath wrote the catalogue and the publicity campaign for the first Indian contemporary art auction by Sotheby’s in 1977. That is when Indian art prices first crossed the six-digit mark. He was the curator of Art Today, the gallery of India Today. For his contribution to tourism, Nath has won the Lifetime Achievement Awards from Outlook Traveller and Conde Nast Traveller, India Hospitality Awards: Gallery of Legends and Anandpur Sahib Heritage Foundation. He has also been appointed Chevalier de l’Ordre National de la Legion d’Honneur by the President of the French Republic for his outstanding achievements in Heritage conservation and his personal affection towards France.

Dr Swapna Liddle

Swapna Liddle is an author and historian with a specialization in the history of Delhi. She has been closely involved in the movement to preserve heritage monuments and sites. In particular, she has been raising awareness about the heritage of Delhi among the public over the last two decades, through heritage walks, talks and publications, and through mainstream and social media. She is currently the Convenor of the Delhi Chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH). She has also written a PhD thesis on 19th century Delhi. Her latest books are Connaught Place and the Making of New Delhi (published in 2018), and Chandni Chowk: The Mughal City of Old Delhi (published in 2017). They deal with two of the historic cities of Delhi – the Mughal capital of Shahjahanabad, and the British capital of New Delhi. In these books the author examines the history of how these cities came to be established, the details and reasons behind their specific designs and layouts, their history, their present state and prospects for their future.

Rana Safvi

Rana Safvi is a renowned writer, and translator. She has written and translated many books. She runs the popular blog ‘Hazrat-e-Dilli’ on her site ranasafvi.com, and is passionate about documenting India’s syncretic culture through her writings.

Alisha Sadikot

Through city walks, Alisha Sadikot aims to instigate critical and creative public engagement with urban histories and design, art, museum collections and heritage spaces in Mumbai.

Aliyeh Rizvi

Aliyeh Rizvi is a history and travel writer, curator and founder of Native Place, a collaborative studio in Bengaluru that works on developing new formats in place-based storytelling to connect people to their local heritage and culture. This includes information design-research, content writing and book publications for heritage, travel and tourism, and experience design- story walks, culture tours and curated arts-practise based community engagements like the Chickpete Metro Station Art-In-Transit project, with the Srishti School of Art, Design and Technology, and the Bangalore Metro Neighbourhood Project supported by the Bangalore Metro Rail Company (BMRCL).

Aditya Ghosh

Aditya Ghosh is CEO, India and South Asia at OYO Hotels & Homes. A seasoned professional with over 21 years of experience, Aditya is entrusted with the responsibility to oversee and grow OYO’s business in South Asia, which includes India, Nepal, and the other upcoming markets in the region. He is responsible for continuing to drive growth while delivering high-quality customer experience and sustained yields for asset owners. A strong advocate of philanthropy and giving back to society, Aditya also enabled the launch of OYOReach, the company’s CSR initiative, through which OYO has contributed towards water and environment conservation initiatives, and supported the victims of floods in Odisha, Assam, and Bihar. Other speakers include Bollywood actor Richa Chaddha, director Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, Deep Kalra, Chairman and Group CEO of MakeMyTrip, global holisitc health guru Dr. Vicky Mehta, Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati, President, Divine Shakti Foundation, Richa Sharma, Gm - Corporate Communications, ITC – Welcomgroup, Vishal Kumar Dev, Secretary Tourism, Govt Of Odisha, Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, Secretary Commissioner – Tourism, Govt Of Madhya Pradesh, Rajni Hasija, Director – Tourism & Marketing, IRCTC.

- https://www.hindustantimes.com/more-lifestyle/ht-tourism-conclave-2019-eminent-personalities-to-look-forward-at-the-event/story-mBYTZhIKBVXNkk5BaejsZK.html, September 18, 2019

The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), Delhi chapter, on Wednesday raised a few concerns regarding the central government’s plan to revamp the central vista. “We are not objecting to the plan. The bid document clearly states that they will follow guidelines for the redevelopment of the central vista. However, how they will do it ,and what these guidelines are, need to be clearly spelt out,” said AGK Menon, chief consultant of INTACH. The organisation released on social media a statement by Menon, listing three issues that the revamp plan needs to address. First, in connection with the guidelines that the bid document promises to follow, he wrote, “In the past, developments have taken place in the Lutyens’ Bungalow Zone (LBZ) -- but less in the Central Vista Area (CVC) area -- based on the discretionary powers of the government. This reveals that there are no objectively defined parameters in place to guide future development” The second issue Menon raised is related to the ‘haste’ with which the government intended to carry out the plan. “The bid document states that the government wants to build a legacy for the next 150 years, but the timeline proposed to complete the project does not support this objective,” wrote Menon. Lastly, the statement noted the financial terms set to identify potential bidders. “It rules out the best architects and planners in India on two counts; first, it invites ‘bids’ to participate in the selection of the consultant, a procedure that the Council of Architecture, the statutory body legislated to manage the profession of architecture, expressly prohibits, and second, the amount of the Earnest Money Deposit demanded, from applicants, R50 lakh, is far in excess of the financial capacity of even the most of the successful Indian professional practices,” noted Menon. He suggested that the financial terms would make it appear that the bid “appears to be an open call to foreign players or large multinational Indian entities.” In response to the issues raised, a senior official with the housing and urban affairs ministry said, “Currently, we have invited ideas for the redevelopment of the central vista and area around it. We had a pre-bid meeting with various firms’ architects. Nothing has been finalised as of now.” Earlier this month, the central government floated a request for proposal, inviting Indian and international architectural firms to provide consultancy for the “development/redevelopment of the Parliament building, common central secretariat and the central vista”. Senior government officials elaborated on the plan to revamp or build a new Parliament house by 2022 and raze down a few buildings to build an integrated secretariat for all central government employees.

- https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/intach-has-a-few-queries-on-central-vista-revamp-plan/story-uw4WenAgLrrXy7zLtB9mPJ.html, September 19, 2019

In an effort aimed at protection and conservation of heritage buildings in Puducherry, the territorial government has reconstituted the State-level Heritage Conservation and Advisory Committee (SLHAC) headed by the Secretary to Government (Town Planning). The committee has Chief Engineer of PWD, Superintending Engineer of Local Administration Department, director of tourism, art and culture, conservation assistant, archaeological department, Dr. S. Kothandaraman, professor, department of civil engineering, Pondicherry Engineering College, Raphael Gastbois, French architect-cum-urban planner, and the chief town planner, town and country planning department as its members. “The committee would have statutory powers to notify heritage buildings and precincts. The committee now needs to finalise the list of heritage buildings and the heritage precincts as proposed under the heritage regulation. Intach has prepared a detailed list of all heritage buildings and a copy has been submitted to the government. “Now, the government has to expedite the process of listing heritage buildings in the Union Territory. A two-stage process could be taken up by listing government and institutional buildings in the first phase followed by private buildings,” said Ashok Panda, co-convenor of Intach. Once the heritage buildings are notified, they cannot be demolished or modified without the approval of this Heritage Conservation Committee. This will enable Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (Intach ) along with the Puducherry government to preserve many heritage buildings in Tamil and French part of the Boulevard, Mr. Panda said. In 1995, a broad study carried out by Intach had declared 1,807 buildings in the boulevard as heritage structures. In 2005, this number fell to 1,173. However, in 2008, a few more buildings were added to the list increasing the total to 1,184. In 2010, after changing the listing classification in line with the national practices as per the recommendations of the Ministry of Urban Development, the number was pruned to 980 buildings. These have been classified as heritage buildings in Grade-IA, Grade-II A, Grade-II B, and Grade-III in the order of importance.

- https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/puducherry/heritage-conservation-and-advisory-committee-constituted/article29462962.ece, September 19, 2019

Who can object if a government, flush with funds, undertakes a ‘new capital’ project? But is the project, which may cost as much as ?15,000 crore or more, worth it?  The three-kilometre-long stretch from Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate would be redeveloped because that, Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Puri admitted, is the Prime Minister’s dream project. The PM, Puri revealed, had also set a deadline. A new Parliament should be ready to host the Monsoon session in 2022. And the entire project must be completed by 2024, leaving architects and town planners three to five years to finalise designs, get eligible contractors on board and complete the project. Nobody of course knows how much the project is going to cost. There is no clarity on which buildings will be razed to the ground, and which will go for retrofitting and which ones will be turned into ‘museums’. Speculation is naturally rife and CPWD insiders believe the project could cost as much as ?15,000 crore or more. As a point of interest, India’s Parliament House was built at a cost of ?80 lakh and completed in 1927. The urgency is such that bids were invited on September 2. Since then, the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) has already issued one addendum and four corrigendums! The earnest money was reduced from ?50 lakh to ?25 lakh. The last date for submitting bids was extended from September 23 to September 30. Curiously or not so curiously, bids were invited from architectural firms which had executed ‘single building projects’ of a state or central government worth at least Rs 250 crore. The condition has given rise to suspicion that the eventual aim is to facilitate a foreign firm to bag the contract or to hand over the project to the erstwhile National Building Construction Corporation and now the NBCC, a public sector behemoth with an annual revenue of ?10,000 crore. The department also explained that contrary to the original stipulation that only consultants who had executed similar projects would be entertained, even builders with experience of building corporate office campuses, hospital and universities, etc. would also be considered for the ambitious project. A pre-bid meeting was held on September 12 and 17 firms attended it including Design Forum International, which is constructing the Vanijya Bhavan on Akbar Road. For reasons not yet clear, government turned down the firm’s request for a joint venture in order to participate in the bidding process. But do we really need a new Parliament House? Is there a need to reimagine the central vista around Rajpath and build a central secretariat and put 70,000 central government staff in the national capital in one campus? By all accounts, neither CPWD nor DDA or any other agency has carried out a detailed survey to determine the need for such a project. No Heritage Assessment Study has been done and if any study was undertaken to explore strategic interventions and more innovative solutions, it remains a closely guarded secret. The only plausible ground cited for the project so far is that once the government goes through the Delimitation exercise, the number of Members of Parliament would go up by several hundred and the present Parliament House will not be able to cope with the increased number. But sceptics and critics alike remain unimpressed. Both Westminster and the Capitol Hill Complex in London and Washington D.C., they point out, are much older and while they have been renovated and modernised, the heritage buildings retain their original façade. The other explanation is that it is yet another vanity project. The Prime Minister, who is known to have a penchant for glitz, glamour, grandeur, and over-the-top construction, may well be dreaming of leaving his foorprint in the capital for the next few centuries, quipped a mid-level official. Such a grand plan to redo heritage buildings of the national capital has upset conservationists and citizens alike. “Indian Parliament is an iconic heritage building, which should not be tampered with. There was expansion of the Canadian Parliament but they didn’t touch the façade at all. Instead, they have gone several floors below under the same structure in Ottawa. Even the UK Parliament is a historic building and they have upgraded it,” says D. Gupta, who heads the Architecture Heritage division of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH). “They have said that they are going to turn the North and South Block into a museum. Do we need these as museums? Make them as functional, government buildings. Do we need such spacious corridors there,” wonders Gupta. AG Krishna Menon, who headed the Delhi chapter of INTACH, recalls “In 2013, the government had submitted a dossier to UNESCO in 2013 to nominate the Lutyen’s Bungalow Zone (LBZ) area to the list of World Heritage Cities. Since the nomination to the list of UNESCO World Heritage City list is still on the Tentative list, it could still be effectively pursued by the government.” The second concern, Menon says, arises from the unprecedented haste in implementing the project. “The old saying, ‘make in haste and repent at leisure’ comes to mind. The massive scale and complexity of the projects envisaged, which are proposed to be completed before the next general elections, challenges the imagination.” “Further, to leave its planning, design and implementation to the advice of the successful bidder is certainly compounding the cause for concern. The bid document states that the government wants to build a legacy for the next 150 years, but the timeline proposed to complete the project does not support this objective,” he adds. A retired CPWD Chief Engineer, who worked on restoration projects including renovation of Parliament, however, believes there are good reasons for building a new Parliament House. The present building, he feels, was designed for far fewer MPs than we have now. But he believes that the construction, if 2022 is indeed in the mind of the government, should have started 10 years ago. “We should not do things in a hurry,” he cautions and recalls the fiasco associated with the Commonwealth Games, Demonetisation and the GST. Pointing out that both Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) have been reluctant to move into the new, spacious buildings constructed for them, he wonders if more new buildings will meet a similar fate. “MEA does not want to leave South Block where they are housed. The new building has huge rooms for the minister and his staff, but they continue to sit at South lock. Isn’t it a waste,” underscores S. Srivastava. Old timers recall past attempts to redevelop the Lutyen’s zone. In 2007, Delhi Urban Art Commission (DUAC), then headed by late architect Charles Correa, wanted to tear down several of these bungalows and construct multi-storey apartment blocks and office buildings. The Commission was accused of favouring interests of real estate developers and not heritage. AG Krishna Menon was quoted by The New York Times as saying that DUAC had kept in mind only the developmental potential of Rajpath and Lutyens Delhi and not its heritage value. Correa had denied the charge. He had claimed that the Commission only wanted to impose order towards the north of Rajpath. There had to be some cohesion to urban form, he maintained. The idea had again cropped up in 2012 when Meira Kumar was the speaker. “At that time, we submitted a proposal stating that if we wanted to maintain the symmetry of Lutyens Delhi, then as per the original plan, Edward Lutyens had planned another circular building on the other side of Vijay Chowk where at present you have the Barracks. At that time, I had suggested that we could follow that plan and to maintain the uniformity in the area, we could have built an external cicular facade with modern amenities inside. Both of these could be connected using an underground tunnel beneath Vijay Chowk ,” recalls Srivastava. The plan was eventually shelved. The last time the buildings went through restoration and renovation was during Rajiv Gandhi’s tenure as PM in the 1980s. “We undertook decongestion of North and South Blocks. We built the CGO complex but people had refused to shift then. Several department heads of IB, CRPF, CBI continued sitting in their old offices for a long time,” Srivastava recalls. The government needs to check if there is a real necessity and then economise it. “I don’t think there is a dire need to construct another Secretariat or an office building unless someone wants to leave an impression that they built this. This government seems to be flush with funds and wants to build a new capital, so all one can say is ‘go ahead’ and ‘ good luck’,” he adds wryly.

- https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/opinion/the-prime-ministers-new-capital-dream-and-redevelopment-of-lutyens-delhi-can-well-lead-to-a-nightmare, September 19, 2019

The automatic washing process also enables them to save almost 60-70 per cent of water for cleaning train coaches, as compared to earlier manual washing process at South Central Railway's Kacheguda station. Indian Railways Kacheguda station of the South Central Railway (SCR) zone has become the very first station in the zone to have the unique automatic coach washing plant (ACWP). The Kacheguda station falling under the Hyderabad division of the SCR zone has achieved modernized cleaning of train coaches with the inclusion of water conservation techniques. The station, which was declared the first energy-efficient station on the Indian Railway network in December 2017, utilizes the ACWP to wash it train coaches, replacing the manual cleaning process used earlier. PV Sai Prasad, Additional DRM, Hyderabad Division said that the automatic coach washing plant was commissioned in the month of July 2019 at the Kacheguda station and is the first station of the SCR zone to have had the same. According to Sai Prasad, on average seven trains are cleaned through the ACWP taking just 15 minutes for each train. The automatic washing process also enables them to save almost 60-70 per cent of water for cleaning train coaches, as compared to earlier manual washing process. Some of the salient features of the ACWP are as follows: The automatic washing plant comprises a control room, effluent treatment plant, washing area, high-pressure unit, control panel and a pump room. Sai Prasad said that the coaches are washed through water atomizer system as the water is dispersed through sprinkler-like channels which has resulted in saving a large quantity of water per coach wash. The automatic washing system then includes layers of detergents, chemicals, brushing and a final wash through hot water as the coach passes through each of the layers. According to SCR, the cost of the plant is Rs 1.26 crore. The fresh water consumption per rake of 24 coaches is 1440 litres (60 litres per coach). Whereas, the total water consumption for manual washing per rake of 24 coaches is 3600 litres. Hence, the water saving per rake of 24 coaches comes out to be 3600-1440=2160 litres (60 percent saved). Additionally, the speed of the train passing through the ACWP is maintained at less than 10 kmph and the manpower required is one man per shift. The Kacheguda railway station of the Hyderabad division is 103 years old and is a marvel of architectural elegance. It was built in the year 1916 by the then Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan and portrays a blend of Indian and Gothic architectural style. The station has been awarded with INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage) award in the year 2014. It also has a one-of-its kind rail museum exhibiting the heritage old railway equipments. The station walls have been beautified with Cheriyal paintings, which is reflective of Telangana tradition and culture. The station has a total of five platforms and receives a total of 47,000 passengers on a daily basis.

- https://www.financialexpress.com/infrastructure/railways/indian-railways-kacheguda-stations-automatic-coach-washing-plant-a-big-boon-details-and-pictures-here/1711354/, September 19, 2019

Sangam age is generally considered between 300 BC and 300AD. But the Sangam age materials unearthed from the Keeladi excavation site in Sivaganga district of Tamil Nadu could be dated between 600 BC and 100 AD, scientific examinations have suggested. The Tamil Nadu state archaeology department that conducted the excavations released the findings on Thursday, after analysing the AMS (accelerator mass spectrometry) dates obtained from Keeladi materials. Six carbon samples collected from Keeladi were sent to Beta Analytic Lab in the US for AMS dating. The dates of all six samples fell between the 6th century BC and 3rd Century BC, said commissioner of department of archaeology T Udhayachandran. The result was released after consulting scholars like K Rajan, who also agreed that Keeladi presented strong evidence to some of the hitherto held hypotheses. “The results suggest that the urbanisation of Vaigai plains happened in Tamil Nadu around 6th century BCE as happened in the Gangetic plains. Likewise, the recent scientific dates obtained for Keeladi findings push back the date of Tamil-Brahmi to 6th century BC,” he said. These results clearly ascertained that the people who lived in Keeladi attained the literacy or learned the art of writing as early as 6th century BC. The new findings prove that a well advanced urban habitation exited in Keeladi from 600 BC. Trace of agrarian society and cattle rearing were also noticed. The 70 samples of skeletal fragments collected from Keeladi had been sent to Pune’s Deccan College to analyse the faunal remains. “Species such as cow, ox, buffalo, sheep, goat, nilgai, blackbuck, wild boar and peacock were identified from the skeletal remains. There was no trace of big animals like elephant. Some skeletal remains are yet to be identified,” he said. Minister for Tamil official language and Tamil culture K Pandirajan said the new findings would redefine the Sangam era. “It’s a great achievement in the history of the department,” he said after releasing a book on Keeladi. This is the first time a book on Keeladi has been brought out by the department after it began excavation on the site in 2017.

- https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/sangam-age-is-older-than-previously-thought-carbon-dating-of-keeladi-materials-suggests/articleshow/71200476.cms, September 19, 2019

The plan might include revamping or building a new Parliament House by 2022 and razing a dozen government offices to build an integrated complex by 2024. The government does not want to destroy the North Block or the South Block, housing key ministries in the national capital, Union housing and urban affair minister Hardeep Puri has said. In an interview to Hindustan Times in the backdrop of the Centre’s plan to restructure the seat of power in the national capital, he added that the buildings were inefficient. The plan might include revamping or building a new Parliament House by 2022 and razing a dozen government offices to build an integrated complex by 2024. Puri said the Centre has not yet finalised the plan of revamping the Parliament. “Why do we need a new Parliament? Not that anybody wants to do away with it but they are inefficient buildings...I have worked in the South Block all my life. The way they are structured, they need to be improved. There should be ease of communication in modern offices,’’ said Puri. He said a major drawback of the Parliament building is that members of Parliament or MPs do not have a place to sit. “If you want mature discourse, you want MPs to have researchers etc. You need enough space... I would like to see the Indian capital, including the government offices and buildings, befitting a rising power in the world.” Puri said his row in Parliament during his first term as an MP was so narrow that there was hardly any legroom. “...when you sit for 5-6 hours, there you need to make MPs comfortable. There is enough land lying there. We are only looking at ideas. No one has any preconceived notions. Once we get the ideas, we will get some professionals to evaluate them and things will move,” Puri said. The plan also includes razing buildings like Shastri Bhawan, Udyog Bhawan and Krishi Bhawan, which also house important government ministries, to build a common secretariat for roughly 70,000 central government employees who currently work across 30 buildings. The deadline for the construction is March 2024. The plan involves having a new Parliament by India’s 75th Independence Day in 2022. “What is remarkable is that we were able to keep it [the plan] under wraps. This is a process which has been going on for a long time. The discussions have been going on for a while. We looked at several studies and we looked at what is happening in other capitals,” Puri said. The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage on Wednesday expressed concerns about the revamp plan and questioned the “haste” with which the government intended to carry it out. “The criticism coming is that there has not been any discussion or expertise to carry out the plan. We want to consult experts, but you can only do that when you have the ideas. There has to be a process even of evaluating the ideas and we are at that stage,” Puri said. The first pre-bidding meeting for the project was held on September 12 with 15 prospective bidders. According to senior officials, 28 proposals have been received so far. The Centre has also decided to extend the deadline of submitting the bids by a week. Architects Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker planned the central vista of Delhi and most of the iconic buildings were constructed between 1911 and 1931, when the new capital was inaugurated.

- https://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/we-do-not-want-to-destroy-north-south-blocks-puri/story-19bqtMa2UnGrAvVapfGzrJ.html, September 20, 2019

Swapna Liddle, Convenor, INTACH Delhi Chapter, and Rana Safvi, historian and author, discuss the potential of heritage tourism in India at the HT Tourism Conclave. India has always been known for its rich heritage and ancient culture. It is, therefore, no surprise that heritage tourism is experiencing a boom in recent years. Swapna Liddle, Convenor, Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) Delhi Chapter, and Rana Safvi, historian and author, discuss the potential of heritage tourism in India at the HT Tourism Conclave with Hindustan Times metro editor, Shivani Singh. While Swapna has authored books including Delhi: 14 Historic Walks, Chandni Chowk: The Mughal City of Old Delhi, Rana’s books include The Forgotten Cities of Delhi, Where Stones Speak: Historical Trails in Mehrauli, the First City of Delhi The HT Tourism Conclave is ongoing presently at the Hyatt Regency in New Delhi. Excerpts: Shivani posed the question, “Do you think there is too much focus on built heritage, like monuments, museums? And we are not tapping the full potential of intangible heritage? There’s so much in terms of culture,” to Rana Safvi. Rana Safvi answered, “There is so much of cultural tourism, there’s religious tourism we can have musical tourism. Let’s take Delhi for instance, we had so much going on here. We had plays, poetry, mushaira, Dastaangoi at Jama Masjid, but these things are not being showcased as cultural heritage. They are indeed happening, but only for a closed circle of people who are doing it.” Talking about Ghalib’s haveli in Ballimaran, Rana Safvi mentioned the absence of a library there, how there were two statues of Ghalib, his sitting area and not much else, she went on to elaborate that not everyone is that passionate about Ghalib that they will come to see the walls. That though many who appreciate his work might, steps need to be taken to make the experience of visiting the museum more interesting for everyone. Rana Safvi then spoke about her first visit to Feroze Shah Kotla, she said, “I remember the first time I went to Feroze Shah Kotla, and I asked someone to come along with me, they said “Inn khandharon me kya rakha hai?” You have to make those khandhars attractive, many people, of course, go for the khandhars. But inside the khandars you need to enact a little bit of the history of the place, you can talk about what happened there, it becomes alive for you. It is only when you can connect to a place through its stories that the whole experience becomes much more personal for you than just seeing stones. Shivani Singh asked Swapna was, “You have been conducting heritage walks for many many years, how do you think such initiatives can be scaled up.” Swapna answered, “Our focus is not on the tourists, but instead on the people who live in the cities. Because we believe that they need to know what that city is about. At INTACH, it’s what we call unprotected heritage, so our natural affinity is towards those sites which are undiscovered. We first document what we have, because if you don’t know what you have, if the people of the country don’t know what they have, how will you promote it to others? We have seen a tremendous response. It’s no coincidence that heritage has become such an important part of media. Twenty years ago, heritage was not a word that was part of popular discourse.” She added, “Now there are two aspects of this, in the big cities like Delhi, Agra we should be looking beyond the monuments, we should be looking at what the city offers, but we also need to look beyond the big cities. There is a lot the other cities have to offer, there is huge potential there, and this is a huge untapped avenue and people will go there and in their wake bring development too. The heritage assets are already there, you just need to add some basic facilities, a lot of young people are willing to go to far off places even if there are no big hotels, they can stay in homestays or tented camps.” Concluding with the most important point, Swapna said, “But the most important aspect of this is that it will take the pressure away from the popular heritage sites.”

- https://www.hindustantimes.com/art-and-culture/ht-tourism-conclave-2019-delhi-has-so-much-to-offer-plays-poetry-mushaira-but-these-are-not-being-showcased-as-cultural-heritage/story-etctvhllCpbWC2MSVsusHN.html, September 20, 2019

Khatri used to ponder about the missing sparrows in the city and, in the process, eventually decided to make nests for them. Ever thought of doing your bit to help the diminishing population of sparrow? Environmentalist Rajesh Khatri, who is renowned for his initiatives of sparrow conservation, has set a platform to give the people a chance to build a “Nest for Sparrows” at the Sunder Nursery on Sunday. The cost of raw material for building a nest comes about Rs 400. Two children can build one nest each. The nests are made of eco-friendly material such as jute, bamboo, and coconut. Each of these participants will receive a certificate of participation. “This is the second such workshop where participants as young as a two-year-old child to 12-year-old with their parents are invited to come and learn the art of making nest for sparrows...My motto is that conservation of sparrows must come before recreation. Earlier, we used to think that birds would come like guests to our house and were mindful of them getting hit by a fan. Slowly, we stopped caring. Our hearts became smaller. I am just trying to make it a point that we care again,” Khatri told The Morning Standard. Khatri used to ponder about the missing sparrows in the city and, in the process, eventually decided to make nests for them. In his workshops, he involves Resident Welfare Associations, communities and schools to train the people on how to make nests and lure the birds to them. For the last few years, Delhi-based Khatri has worked with 3,500 schools for promoting sparrow conservation. The driving force behind the Eco- Roots Foundation, Khatri has been honoured with the Green Apple award in the House of Commons, London in recognition of best sparrow conservation activity in India. “I play it like a game where parents and children participate together. I noted in last five years that young parents come with more enthusiasm and make sure their kids indulge in this part of the environmental awareness,” said Khatri, a documentary filmmaker by profession.

State bird of Delhi:

It was former chief minister Sheila Dikshit, who declared the humble sparrow as the state bird of Delhi in 2012. She had also launched a campaign to save the species.

- http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/delhi/2019/sep/21/come-learn-to-make-nest-for-sparrows-at-sunder-nursery-2036921.html, September 20, 2019

Several nondescript buildings which serve as keepers of centuries of history in Fort Kochi and Mattancherry lie unprotected and vulnerable to being built over or destroyed. The Ariyittuvazhcha Kottaram in Mattancherry, the Bastion Bungalow in Fort Kochi and the St. Sebastian Church in Thoppumpady are the only three buildings that have been declared protected monuments by the State Archaeology Department. The St. Francis Church and the Mattancherry Palace were declared protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Other structures of historical value strewn across the area have been left to their fate. “Even the Paradesi Jewish synagogue, which is so popular among tourists, has not been declared protected,” said K.J. Sohan, former mayor and convenor of the INTACH Kerala chapter. “If these buildings are not declared protected, they can be pulled down or modified without considering their architectural or historical value,” he said. It was this lack of protection that led to the destruction of the Parade Ground in Fort Kochi during the 2017 FIFA under-17 football world cup, said Mr. Sohan. Though the authorities who had allowed the world cup at the ground had said it would be restored after the games, it was left in a dilapidated state. “They spent ?3.8 crore to raise the height of the ground and fence a portion of it. Rainwater now flows into the adjoining ASI-protected St. Francis Church,” he said. “The Dutch, the British and the Portuguese used the ground as their barracks. When we became an independent country, the Union Jack was lowered at the parade ground in a beating-the-retreat ceremony and the Indian flag was raised,” explained Mr. Sohan. Chinese fishing nets Fort Kochi’s Chinese fishing nets, the technology for which the Portuguese may have brought from Macau in the early 16th century, is also threatened by the proposed water metro jetty, said Bony Thomas, writer and illustrator who is part of the Biennale team. Besides, the existing jetty, a remnant of the British period, lies in a dilapidated state close by. Though construction is regulated 100m around the ASI-protected Mattancherry Palace, Mattancherry itself has not been declared a heritage zone. When Fort Kochi was declared a heritage zone, no study on Mattancherry’s heritage was available, said Mr. Sohan. In Mattancherry, layers of history documenting the migrations of the Gujarati and Arab traders, Kutchi Memons, Tamils, the colonial powers and the Jews lie unprotected, said Jose Dominic, member of INTACH. The Gujarati and Konkani temples, the Kalvathy bridge and canal, which was the centre of Arab trade, and the warehouses in the bazaar are all historically significant, but have not been listed to specify what changes can or cannot be made to them. The rafters and tiles on the roofs of several buildings in the bazaar were falling apart, said Mr. Sohan. The Chembittapally masjid near Mattancherry, said to have been built over 600 years ago by people who migrated from Nineveh, was also an unprotected site, he said. Since they are not protected, there are no signboards that mark the historical structures in Mattancherry. Like the Kadavumbhagam synagogue, portions of which recently collapsed, most of the buildings in the area were privately owned, which made the process of acquisition and protection tedious, said an official at the State Archaeology Department. The process to notify the synagogue as protected had been stalled since 2013 as the property was found to have been mortgaged, the official said. The centuries-old Thekkumbagham synagogue on Jew Street is also in private hands and has not been restored or protected for its historical value

. Conservation project

The Kochi Corporation’s Centre for Heritage, Environment and Development (CHED) had a State-funded conservation project in the offing for the area. Pressures of development halted the project and it did not go beyond the stage of mapping some sites, said CHED director Rajan Chedambath. “Besides, the issue is tricky since much of it is private property and owners may want to rebuild rather than preserve the existing structure,” he said. Since Fort Kochi was declared a heritage zone in 1990, regulations that require constructions to be approved by the Art and Heritage Committee under the State Town Planning Department were in place, said Mr. Sohan. “But these regulations are often flouted. Moreover, there are no detailed guidelines that specify what can or cannot be done while constructing in the area. The idea is not to fossilise the place, but make it a living museum to protect it,” he added. Under the Smart City project, ?30 crore has been set aside for a “Fort Kochi and Mattancherry region master plan for tourism and ?110 crore for the redevelopment of the Broadway market and Mattancherry spice market.” “As per the project plan, guidelines are to be prepared for the area. But, the project has been handed over to the Town Planning Department which does not have the expertise to handle complicated conservation efforts. If they bring in experts, they might be able to use the funds well,” said Mr. Sohan.

- https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Kochi/keepers-of-history-face-uncertain-future/article29494165.ece, September 23, 2019

Members of the Pune Cantonment Board have proposed to send a detailed heritage structure proposal to the ministry of defence (MoD),requesting it to list them as heritage structures. The 200-year-old Pune Cantonment Board (PCB) boasts of important historical buildings and structures located under its jurisdiction. However, the Cantonment board is yet to introduce its treasure to the world in terms of a heritage walk, though strenuous efforts are being undertaken to get their eight important structures listed as national heritage monuments. These are the National War Memorial, Race Course, Armed Forces Medical College, St Patrick’s Church, St Mary’s Church, Chhatrapati Shivaji Market, Babajan Dargah and Maratha War Memorial. Members of the PCB have proposed to send a detailed heritage structure proposal to the ministry of defence (MoD),requesting it to list them as heritage structures. Kiran Kalamdani, city-based architect and conservationist in 2011 along with the Pune chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), was asked by the Pune Cantonment Board (PCB) to prepare an outline for the heritage revival of Shivaji market in Camp and other places. However, despite submission of a detailed plan, the PCB did not consider the recommendations regarding the conservation. Some active residents and conservation activists also requested the PCB to consider a project on the lines of heritage walk, but it has not received any attention till date. In 2001, PCB had appointed a heritage advisory committee, to seek their expertise on how to preserve the Cantonment heritage under the presidentship of Brigadier Ashok Anand, now retired. Samita Gupta, historian was among the members of the committee.Currently, PCB does have any official dedicated to exclusively monitor heritage affairs. City activists and camp residents share their views on the issue. “Cantonment is very rich in military heritage and the heritage value is of immense national importance. We want a special cell to be set up to protect this rich heritage and if need be start a heritage walk for the citizens and tourists, ” said advocate Netraprakash Bhog, social activist. Manjett Singh Virdi, a cantonment-based businessman, said, “We have very high value of heritage buildings and the same must be listed at the national and international level. Our non-governmental organisation (NGO) MSV (Manjett Singh Virdi) Foundation will help the board in setting up the heritage walk initiative. ” Vivek Yadav, vice-president, PCB, said, “We will take all the steps to ensure that the heritage structures are protected and people get to enjoy their importance. The administration is working for the overall development of the cantonment area, including heritage building conservation.” Jayesh Paranjape, founder, The Western Routes A walk which I would like to take in the Camp area should be well-researched, accurate in the history, have some universal appeal which can appeal to a local person, a migrant who is from some other city, an expat and even a foreign tourist. It should not be too long! Considering the mixed cultural scene, the walk should focus on the different communities which call the Cantonment their home. (Jayesh has been conducting heritage walks and food trails in the city areas of Pune) Jui Tawade, co-convener of INTACH Pune, shares that the Pune chapter has been conducting a variation of walks in Camp, on requests. “We do regular walks in Camp and most of them are pre-booked ones. We plan them as per requirement. There are food walks, that include eateries across the area. Then, we have walks planned during Christmas, which include food, visiting churches, residences, heritage buildings etc. The response has been good so far.”

- https://www.hindustantimes.com/pune-news/pune-cantonment-high-on-heritage-secluded-from-the-public-eye/story-YABuDeeEXPCJSJOCryePjL.html, September 23, 2019

India has not explored the full potential of heritage tourism because it is so large, according to the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage convenor Swapna Liddle. “We have to think out of the box and look at where our untapped potential lies,” said Liddle at the Hindustan Times Tourism Conclave on Friday. At a session titled Potential of Heritage Tourism in India, Liddle said an average tourist, who visits Agra, for instance, goes to the Taj Mahal, the fort, and maybe Fatehpur Sikri and rushes back. “We are not encouraging tourists to wander in the streets of the old city, or to explore the colonial era areas like the Civil Lines or even the ASI [Archaeological Survey of India] sites like the Catholic cemetery,” she added. Historian and author Rana Safvi, who was also a part of the session, discussed the multiple ways in which the rich tangible and intangible heritage of the country can be explored to propel tourism, economic growth and community development in India. Safvi underlined the need to tap into intangible heritage and culture. She added in Delhi, for instance, Dastangoi, an ancient form of Urdu storytelling, happens on a stretch around Jama Masjid along with various other plays, and poetry recitations. “…but none of that is being showcased as a cultural heritage,” she said. “The intangible needs to be connected to the tangible to give context and bring the ruins and walls alive. That is why heritage walks have become so popular these days,” she said. Liddle, who has been conducting heritage walks in Delhi for over a decade, said that such activities have seen a tremendous response from the public. “It is not a coincidence that in the last 20 years, heritage has become such an important part of the popular discourse,” she said. Both Liddle and Safvi underlined it is necessary to go beyond the obvious heritage sites both for economic growth and for removing pressure from the popular ones. Liddle said it is important to learn that tourism is too important to be left to the tourism department and ministries alone. “It is something that should concern all of us whether it is the municipal corporations, environment authorities, employment generation sector...,’’ said Liddle. “By making better cities, we will improve the lives of the people living there and make it a better experience for tourists as well.” The panellists also discussed how heritage development for tourism purposes can also help in urban development, the need for public-private partnerships, and the scope of heritage tourism as a career option for students of the social sciences.

- https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/need-to-tap-into-unexplored-potential-of-heritage-tourism/story-Ap6B9peUsMC4pT1EabzLaL.html, September 23, 2019

Architecture students may be roped in to restore the facades of heritage structures in the area. Each heritage building in the historical Chandni Chowk illustrates architectural reforms introduced in the city since the 1650s. Their structural designs depict the shift in construction patterns from red sandstone, marble, and traditional lakhori brick-lime mortar combination to modern-day cement, concrete with iron girders. This change is most evident in the façades of the buildings standing on the 1.3 km-long stretch between Red Fort crossing and Fatehpuri Masjid — a majority of which were raised after the 1857 rebellion, and when the railway transport was introduced in the city in 1866. These buildings with prominent facades include the famous Town Hall (1863), State Bank of India building (1861) and Mahavir Jain Bhawan (1910) among others. Even as several of these structures including havelis house commercial offices, their iconic façades are in urgent need of repair. The decaying state of their distinct architecture has drawn the attention of the Shahjahanabad Redevelopment Corporation (SRDC) which plans to launch facade conservation of heritage buildings with the help of architecture students. “We are exploring possibilities for frontage restoration of the structures. The SRDC or North Delhi Municipal Corporation may take up the project. Modalities will be chalked out. Architecture students from Jamia Millia Islamia or School of Planning and Architecture (SPA) may be roped in,” said a Delhi government official. After a meeting last month between representatives of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) and commissioner of the north Municipal Corporation, Varsha Joshi, the body had prepared a proposal for the project. Funding options for the proposal are also being examined as the buildings are either private properties or owned by a trust and board. According to officials, the SRDC might bear the repair cost and the occupants or owners will later maintain the conserved features. “If the project is given to the students, it will reduce the expenditure and also work can be completed swiftly,” said an official. “We have offered to do documentation for the conservation project because until the original architectural features are not retained, the ongoing street redevelopment of Chandni Chowk market may not be effective. Presently, architectural elements of buildings are concealed behind the jumble of cables and shutters,” said Annabel Lopez, project coordinator of INTACH’s Delhi chapter. While heritage experts and administration are ready to execute the ambitious plan, occupants and owners of the buildings are divided over it. Anil Pershad, one of the owners of Rai Chunnamal mansion praised the proposal. “The street is undergoing significant redevelopment; exterior of buildings along the road should also be spruced up,” he said. However, Rajesh Rana, an occupant of Pearey Lal Building, claimed that multiple ownership may be an issue for the maintenance of restored portion later.”

Shankar Terrace

Year: 1937-38

Ownership: Private

Conceived as a commercial building, ‘Shankar Terrace’, an Art Deco style structure, was arguably the first multi-storey edifice in the city. It was commissioned by Yogeshwar Dayal, scion of a prominent family of Delhi, who is credited to restore ‘Phool Waalon Ki Sair’ festival in 1962. It has several shops on the ground floor like other properties in Chandni Chowk and upper floors are used as offices and godowns

State Bank of India (SBI) building

Year: 1861

Ownership: PSB

The Delhi and London Bank, which was in operation during British period, was established here. The three-storey colonial-era building is the oldest branch of the SBI. Its hexastyle Corinthian columns, balustrade terrace, arched doorways, spiral iron staircase, old English lifts, and tinted glass windows are fine example of European architecture. The Imperial Bank of India (predecessor of SBI) later acquired this building; the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) also operated from here for 20 years (1935-1955) before shifting to the Parliament Street office

Rai Chunnamal ki Haveli

Year: 1850s

Ownership: Private

The mansion belongs to the family of Rai Chunnamal, a money-lender. He was appointed as the first municipal commissioner of the city and was among few residents of the city to have owned a car and a telephone. Spreading over one acre of land, with 150 rooms built on three floors; this haveli is surrounded by more than 100 shops. Several films have been shot here ES Pearey Lal Building

Year: Early 20th century; probably around 1930s

Ownership: private

Constructed by one of the wealthiest residents of Delhi and motor dealer – Pearey Lal — it is a three-storey building. Pilaster on the front wall on the third floor and ornamental perforated screens over chajjas (overhanging eaves) are its prominent features. It houses several shops and offices. Till 2010, a section of it, served as a hotel Mahavir Jain Bhawan

Year: 1910

Ownership: Trust

Built-in 1910 by Lala Gokul Chand Nahar, a prominent old Delhi social worker, the building is popularly known as ‘Baradari’. It is an important site for the Jain community, where religious rituals are performed. The double-storey building with mouldings and flower motifs on the parapets has distinct sandstone details. It houses an old library, whose visitor’s book holds signatures of several eminent leaders of the freedom movement.

- http://www.newindianexpress.com/lifestyle/travel/2019/sep/24/heritage-buildings-in-delhis-chandni-chowk-to-get-a-face-lift-2038313.html, September 24, 2019

The two-day international seminar on ‘Ethnicity, livelihood and culture change among the Himalayan people: Anthropology and beyond’, organised by Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU), concluded here on Tuesday. Addressing the valedictory function, Dr Lokesh Ohri, convenor of the Dehradun chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage, spoke about his study of the Jaunsar tribe of Uttarakhand. Dr Ohri emphasized the need to “understand the primordial model of research which was defined by eminent research scholars of the past in order to understand the issues of modernity of a tribe.” RGU Vice Chancellor Prof Saket Kushwaha emphasized the need to conduct such seminars “to explore the broader understanding on issues like ethnicity, livelihood and culture change,” and urged the stakeholders and participants to “do more in-depth research on the various issues of the Himalayan people, including the present research area.” Prof Sarit Kumar Chouduri from Bhopal (MP)-based Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya (IGRMS) highlighted “the issues of pain and constraint of the Himalayan people, which need to be acknowledged.” RGU’s Anthropology HoD, Prof H Vokendro Singh, also spoke. The seminar was organized by RGU’s anthropology department in collaboration with the IGRMS.

- https://arunachaltimes.in/index.php/2019/09/25/rgus-intl-seminar-on-ethnicity-concludes/, September 25, 2019

Mandu’s tryst with history is old. The parched little hilltop town in Madhya Pradesh, traces its roots to the Paramara dynasty in the 8th century CE. Though, not much is known about the history of the town, what makes it interesting are the ancient water conservation systems in place. The reason why the water management techniques at Mandu are relevant in contemporary times is because we are running out of water. Cities are quickly running out of groundwater and are now heavily-dependent on tanker supply for their water needs.

The comprehensive water management system

The elaborate water harvesting techniques which catered to the needs of the people in those times, still continue to serve those who live in the city. The water management system at the fort complex at Mandu comprised of about 1200 water tanks which collected rainwater and supplied it to the rest of the fort through different channels. These 1,200 tanks are spread across 70 monuments in the fort complex. However, over the years now, water conservation techniques are visible in only 700 water tanks across five of these monuments. One of these monuments is also the most iconic and visited spots in the city — the Jahaz Mahal (Ship Palace). Built in the 15th century by Ghiyas-ud-din Khilji, the Mahal, as rumour has it, housed a harem of 15,000 women. The Jahaz Mahal is surrounded by two artificial lakes called the Munj Lake and Kapur Lake. These lakes, on either side of the fort, are connected by a canal that ensured equal distribution of water in the two lakes when it rained heavily. When both lakes fill up during the monsoons, the Mahal looks like a ship sailing in the sea, thus the name, Jahaz Mahal. Jahaz Mahal also had several wells in the premises and most of these were large stepwells also known as baoris. While Andheri Baori maintained a cool temperature in the palace, 265 feet deep Ujala Baori was built away from the palace complex. The water in both these tanks were used for drinking purposes among other uses.

Water transportation within the palace complex

When all the channels were functional, they formed an important feature in the water management system at Mandu. There were underground channels that supplied water from the man-made lakes and tanks. Some of the water channels were built on the floor surface of the fort complex and intricately designed. Several cisterns inside the fort complex stored water from the lakes and tanks. Some of these cisterns served the purposes of ‘royal bath’ (also known as Hamam Ghar) with steps being constructed on the sides of the cisterns for the ease of non-swimmers. The water from Andheri baori was connected to the Hamam Ghar through three different tunnels. The first tunnel was above a cooking stove which heated up the water. While, the second one was meant to convert this water to steam and the third supplied the cold water. The water tanks on the roof-tops were important reservoirs in the fort complex. These roof-top tanks had pipes and channels to maintain regular supply of water for domestic use and other purposes like gardening. When rain was scarce and these rooftop tanks did not hold much water, the designers devised a pulley system. This pulley system comprised of silver baskets which served the purpose of vessels, carrying water from other tanks, manned by two people all day. Perhaps, we can take some inspiration and even adopt some of these techniques in modern architecture to solve our water woes!

- https://www.thebetterindia.com/197562/mandu-jahaz-mahal-rainwater-harvesting-water-conservation-ancient-india/, September 25, 2019

In a major relief, the Patna High Court on Wednesday put a stay on the proposed demolition of the centuries-old Patna Collectorate, heritage NGO INTACH said. The Patna Chapter of the Delhi-based Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) had filed two PILs on August 30 on preservation of the Collectorate and other heritage landmarks of the city. "Both the petitions were heard together on Wednesday by a division bench comprising Justice Shivaji Pandey and Justice Partho Sarthi. Both these PILs were for conserving the cultural and heritage buildings of Patna," INTACH Patna Convener J K Lall said. "This is a historic moment and will set the precedent for historic preservation in other cities," he said. The hearing went for around 30 minutes after which the court directed the state to file its reply within four weeks and further made the Patna Municipal Corporation a party to the proceedings, Lall said. It has further directed restraining the respondent authorities from "causing any harm to the collectorate building until further orders", he said. In one of the two PILs, the INTACH had sought constitution of the Bihar Urban Arts and Heritage Commission as envisioned under the "Bihar Urban Planning Development Act 2012," said Sanket, an advocate from the INTACH Patna team. "This Act was notified on December 27, 2012 itself, but the state government since last seven years had failed to constitute the said commission at the cost of cultural heritage and monumental buildings which are already in dilapidated condition throughout the state and especially, in the city of Patna," the INTACH Patna said in a statement. In the second PIL, a relief was sought for restraining immediately the authorities who were "bent upon demolishing the Patna Collectorate and ancillary buildings there by eradicating forever the city from its history which traces back to more than 200 years", it said. A people''s movement Save Historic Patna Collectorate has been striving for the last three years to save the Collectorate from demolition and had proposed to the government to restore it and adaptively use it as a cafe or some cultural space. "It is a a small victory, a moral victory for our team, but it will pave the way for preservation of other historic buildings in Patna and rest of Bihar which have been lying in decay," said Rajiv Soni, an independent researcher, and supporter of the campaign. The campaign had garnered support of then Dutch government and the UK-based Gandhi Foundation. The Oscar-winning film "Gandhi" starring Ben Kingsley was shot partly at the Record Room and DM office. PTI KND SNE SNE.

- https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/nuclear-energy-still-challenge-for-india-pm-modi/1627308?scroll, September 26, 2019

On the eve of World Tourism Day, Bhaderwah Campus in collaboration with INTACH (Jammu Chapter) organized a two-day workshop on listing of the “Tangible and Intangible Heritage of Doda District” in Lal Ded auditorium here today. The inaugural function was presided over by Prof Anil K Raina, Rector, Bhaderwah Campus, Rajinder Khajuria, ADC Bhaderwah, Colonel Panday, CO 4 RR, SM Sahni, Convener, INTACH Jammu Chapter. The two-day seminar started with the welcome address by Dr Subash Chander, convener of the workshop. Students, professors and officers from different wings of Bhaderwah Campus and other institutions were present in the function. The Rector Bhaderwah Campus in his presidential remarks emphasized upon the significance of holding such workshop and spoke on its socio cultural and economic relevance. He further stated that such type of workshop will bring the heritage of this part of Jammu and Kashmir state on the world map thereby opening new possibilities of growth for the region. While sharing his thoughts with the participants during the inaugural session of workshop, Col DD Pandey said, “I can tell you from my personal experience that to remain connected with our roots is the only way to not only protect our identity but to also keep on riding the ladders of success.” The proceedings of the seminar were conducted by Dr Ambish Malik (Lecturer, Department of English) while as vote of thanks was conducted by Dr Neeraj.

- https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/two-day-workshop-on-heritage-of-doda-district-held/, September 26, 2019

To promote and preserve the ancient and unique Nag culture of Chenab region, University of Jammu in collaboration with Indian National Trust For Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) organised a two day documentation listing workshop on tangible-intangible heritage at Bhadarwah Campus on Thursday. The workshop which was organised at jam packed Lal-Ded auditorium of Bhaderwah Campus as a prelude to ‘World Tourism Day’ was primarily aimed at to create awareness among youth about their roots, promote the uniqueness of ancient culture heritage to the outer world and most importantly to document the the hidden features of the ancient cultural assets of Bhadarwah. The inaugural function was presided over by Prof. Anil K Raina, Rector Bhaderwah Campus, while Rajinder Khajuria ADC Bhaderwah and Col. D D Pandey CO 4 RR were the guests of honor. SM Sahni Convenor INTACH Jammu Chapter was the special invitees on the occasion. The two days workshop started with the welcome address by Dr Subash Chander convenor of the workshop. Students, Professors and officers from different wings of Bhaderwah Campus and other institutions were present in the function. Rector Bhaderwah Campus in his presidential remarks emphasised upon the significance of holding such workshop and spoke on its socio-cultural and economic relevance. He further stated that such type of workshops will bring the heritage of this part of Jammu and Kashmir state on the world map thereby opening new possibilities of growth for the otherwise neglected region. Proceedings of the seminar were conducted by Dr Ambish Malik Lecturer Department of English while as vote of thanks was conducted by Dr Neeraj Sharma.

- http://news.statetimes.in/bhadarwah-campus-holds-seminar-on-tangible-intangible-heritage-of-chenab-region/, September 26, 2019

Towering red sand dunes — some as high as 40 feet — envelope you in a resounding silence at Erra Matti Dibbalu near Visakhapatnam. The occasional patch of green trees extends out of the sandy hills. Walking through the endless, meandering maze of these dunes, a rare geological occurrence in this part of the globe, can be a fascinating experience, if you have a knowledgeable guide along with you. Located near Bheemunipatnam, the Erra Matti Dibbalu site is more than 12,000 years old. It was recognised as a national geo-heritage site in 2014 and as a protected site by the Andhra Pradesh Government in 2016. The only other place in the country to have a similar stretch of red sand dunes is Tamil Nadu, which has the Teri dune complex. “Sand dunes, like other geologically-significant sites in and around Visakhapatnam, are Paleo-environmental indicators and these can give vital clues to the past and the future for scientists,” says D Rajasekhar Reddy, advisor to Geo Heritage Cell of INTACH and former professor of Geology, Andhra University. About 18,500 years ago, a major climatic shift took place during the Glacial Maximum Age. This phenomenon, interestingly, is linked to the formation of the red sand dunes. “During that period, the sea had receded about 50 kilometres from the present coastline, with a vertical drop of 120 metres. As a result, the continental shelf was exposed and sand was transported and deposited on land,” explains Reddy. Incidentally, the sand was never the shade of red (as we see it today) back then. “The red colour is a result of geo-chemical alterations that happened over the years,” he states. As you walk around the red sand dunes, you would notice a peculiar characteristic of these hills. The red dunes are neither rocky, nor sand-like, but have an unusual texture that binds them together. Only when you climb over these dunes and walk over the top of this geological site can you get an idea of its vast expanse, spread over more than 100 acres. Natural arch A little before Erra Matti Dibbalu is another geologically-sensitive site, perched along the coastline of Thotlakonda. Here one of the most noteworthy geological developments is still in progress. Thousands of years of wind and sand action along the shore has resulted in natural rock formations — something that has turned into a tourist attraction in recent years. Some are in the shape of dunes and others form bridge-like arches, seen better during low tide. This particular coast also teems with marine life, including brown algae and the peacock’s tail. “This particular spot is a live laboratory for researchers and students,” says Reddy. And there is plenty of reason to believe so. “This natural rock formation is still evolving with Nature. The formation began after the last Ice Age at around 10,000 years ago and is similar to the natural rock arch of Silathoranam in the Tirumala Hills,” he adds.

Wonders in Eastern Ghats

Moving towards the Eastern Ghats belt of Visakhapatnam opens up another site of geological significance — a volcanic ash site in Araku. The Geological Survey of India has dated this site to be about 73,000 years old. Here, a large part of land is covered by a 70-centimetre-thick sheet of volcanic ashes, which moved all the way from the Mount Toba volcanic eruption that occurred about 75,000 years ago in Indonesia. “The sites needs to be studied to understand the magnitude of the explosion, climatic condition then and how ash traversed such great distances to settle down in a remote corner of India,” says Reddy. “It is intriguing and provides a major clue in the reconstruction of the geological history of the rocks of the region.”

- https://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/travel/visakhapatnams-hidden-ecological-hotspots/article29519572.ece, September 27, 2019

Trichy: A stone inscription dating back to the 10th century AD recorded from a Shiva temple in Pudukottai district throws light on the participation of local people in managing temples during Chola era, said members of archaeological research foundation of Pudukkottai, who stumbled upon the stone inscription during a visit to the temple recently. Situated in Kiliyur village near Annavasal of Pudukkottai district, the temple was renovated recently while the lingam and Nandhi have been untouched for years. The inscription also explains how land donation made to a temple were exempted from tax and the revenue from the temple was utilized for maintenance of the temple, they added. The stone inscription was part of the old temple structure found away from the temple, which was left unnoticed and is yet to be recorded by archaeology department, said Karu Rajendran, president of the forum, who deciphered the inscription. He said that the inscription was carved during 12th regnal year of Chola king Uthamachola (970-985 AD). This slab, which is about four feet tall and three feet wide, has a trident symbol carved at the end of the stone. While name of the donor of agriculture land is not known, A Manikandan, founder of the forum, said that the revenue from the land was used to offer sacred rice to the temple deity. Coordinator of the forum, M Muthu Kumar said that one could have assumed that the inscription is from King Paranthakachola’s period, who was also given the title of Kopparakesari like Uthamachola. However, King Paranthaka had been titled as ‘Madurai Konda Kopparakesari’, which was not mentioned in the inscription. The state archaeology department has been informed about the findings by the forum.

- https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/trichy/inscription-from-chola-era-found-in-pudukottai/articleshow/71319252.cms, September 27, 2019

World Tourism Day is celebrated on September 27 every year. This date was chosen as the Constitution of the World Tourism Organization was accepted on this day in 1970. On this global day, Indian leaders have urged the youth to explore India and its diverse cultural heritage. Chief Ministers of various states have also invited various people to visit their states. This year, the theme of World Tourism Day is "Tourism and jobs: a better future for all". India is the hosting country for World Tourism Day 2019. Venkaiah Naidu, the Vice President of India, urged the youth to visit tourist destinations in the country on World Tourism Day. "On #WorldTourismDay2019 I call upon the youth to visit tourist destinations in the country to understand the rich cultural heritage of India. Travelling teaches many things. It introduces us to the diverse cultures of the world," the Vice President tweeted. "India has many scenic and pilgrimage destinations with relevance to Indian history, culture, mythology and heritage. I urge schools to organize students' visits to monuments, historical places, and archeological sites," he added. Biplab Kumar Deb, the Chief Minister of Tripura, invited everyone to his state - "the hidden gem of northeast". "On #Worldtourismday I convey my warm regards to everyone and invite all to visit #Tripura, the hidden gem of Northeast ! The traditional and cultural heritage, lush greenery, majestic architectures, sky touching hills, Tribal and Bengali cuisines will leave you spellbound!," he tweeted. He also shared some magnificent photographs from the state. Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh also invited people to visit his state and join in the 550th Prakash Purb celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. He also shared a beautiful clip from the state. Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and other leaders also promoted tourism by sharing beautiful pictures from their states. Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, "Today is #WorldTourismDay. I welcome you all to come and #ExperienceBengal. From the Himalayas to the sea, from the forests in Dooars to the 'Lal Mati' in Paschimanchal, mangroves in Sundarbans to the heritage sites in Gour Banga, come and make memories of a lifetime in #Bangla."

- https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/world-tourism-day-explore-india-cultural-heritage-say-leaders-2108016, September 27, 2019

A three-and-a-half acre complex with seven tombs in Tauru, Nuh, represents different architectural styles from the Tughlaq, Lodhi, post-Lodhi and early Mughal periods. Built from the 14th century onwards, the structures are decaying for lack of upkeep. A small detour from the Rewari-Sohna Road will lead you to ward number 10 in Tauru, Nuh— a seemingly nondescript residential area. Unknown to most outsiders, however, the area is also home to a massive tomb complex hidden behind a mesh of newer constructions and farmlands. The complex has seven tombs that can be traced back to the 14th and 15th centuries AD. However, despite its towering presence, locating the complex can be quite a task for a first-time visitor. The entrance to the complex is through a concrete passageway which leads to what locals call the ‘peer baba ki mazaar (shrine)’. Little is known about the history of the mazaar—which is revered in the locality —since the unmarked graves have been plastered with fresh green tiles. A plaque at the gateway of the shrine, however, mentions that the gateway was constructed in 2007 by a local resident. It is only after crossing this shrine that one gets a glimpse of the tombs and the larger complex. A narrow concrete pathway runs the length of the complex, which is a unique ensemble of tombs with walled enclosures, burial structures, an eidgah and a dargah on an uneven, undulating land of about three-and-a-half acres. A dried well also exists in the middle of the complex, according to the state department’s listing. The complex is significant due to the diversity of the architectural styles on display. The seven tombs have been built from the 14th century onwards in different architectural styles from the Tughlaq, Lodhi, post-Lodhi and early Mughal periods, according to experts—walking through the complex feels like traversing through different eras. Made of heavy stones, the tombs demonstrate the use of lime plaster and are said to be associated with the Khanzadas, a community of Muslim Rajputs who ruled over Mewat for centuries. In some of the tombs, inscriptions from the Quran adorn circular panels, while the alcoves are fitted with jaali work. These carvings and inscriptions exude the aura of a glorious past, one that is fast receding into oblivion. “The architectural features of these tombs show that they belonged to the local Khanzada rulers. They indicate strong Tughlaq and Lodhi influence. Two of the tombs seem to belong to the post-Lodhi and early Mughal period,” Banani Bhattacharyya, deputy director of the Department of Archaeology & Museums, says. She adds that the tombs demonstrated architectural elements found in the tombs of the Lodhi period “The tombs of the Lodhi period mainly belong to two categories— one based on an octagonal plan and the second based on a square plan. Elements of the square architectural plan with no verandah, exaggerated building height, the walled enclosure around each tomb and shallow arches sunk into rectangular panels filling the space between the main arches are all evident in these tombs.” Shikha Jain, the convener of INTACH, Haryana chapter, says that the fact that the complex showcases architectural styles from various periods is the most interesting part about it. “The Khanzadas in the area must have died at different times, and the style prevailing at that particular time is reflected in these tombs. In Delhi, most tomb complexes show only one architectural influence,” she says. Formidable centuries ago, the heritage structures punctuating the complex are crumbling and on the brink of collapse now. More than 15 years ago, one of the chhatris of the largest tombs crumbled. Later, another chhatri was damaged. As of now, only two of the four chhatris of the said tomb remain. The enclosures surrounding most of the tombs have also broken in parts. Further, as is the case with most heritage structures in Haryana, the complex is also being used by locals as a storehouse for cow dung cakes. At least four of the tombs are now packed to capacity with stacks of cow dung cakes. Mounds of cow dung can also be seen on the ground and within the alcoves and arches. In addition to the damage caused by man-made activities, the tombs have also fallen victim to nature’s wrath and suffered damage in the form of deep cracks and disintegration of structures. Most tombs in the complex have also become a haven for a range of animals—squirrels, bats, and pigeons. After years of sustaining damage at the hands of humans and nature alike, the tombs are gradually disintegrating, and the crisis is further exacerbated by the absence of any state protection. Eventual state protection for the tomb complex is also expected to be an arduous affair with the ownership of the land being fairly complicated. Currently, multiple people and organisations have staked claims to different portions of the complex. While the Haryana Wakf Board owns some land, locals also stake claim to the property. “The ownership of the complex rests with different people. The Wakf board, the archaeology department, and several individuals own different portions,” Rajesh Kumar Sehrawat, whose house is located a few steps away from the tomb complex, says. Sehrawat is in favour of government protection for the complex. He fondly recalls how Mansoor Ali Khan, the nawab of Pataudi, and his wife Sharmila Tagore, had visited the place many years ago. “Nawab Sahab came with his wife and even asked a local tehsildar from Pataudi to take care of the property,” he adds. Ubedullah Khan, estate officer of the Wakf board in Nuh, says that there has been a mention of certain marlas of land within the complex on its record but there is ambiguity over ownership of the tombs. “Apart from the tombs, there is an eidgah, a masjid, and a dargah on the premises. The finer details of the ownership of the tombs will have to be checked through the revenue records,” Khan says. Most locals in the area refer to the tombs as ‘Gumat’ and seek protection for the complex. They see it as a legacy, which, if restored, could bring fame and development to the region. “The government should transform it and make it a tourist destination like Chandni Chowk. We will be more than happy if that happens. The rates of our property will double if the place becomes famous. With all the cow dung and dirt, it’s simply decaying,” Hukum Singh Sehrawat, 70, a resident who owns farmlands in the area, says. Over the years, attempts have been made to give a fresh lease of life to some of the tombs in the complex. However, the efforts couldn’t be sustained, with the tombs falling into disrepair once again. Two phases of conservation for two tombs were carried out at the complex by INTACH. The first phase took place from November 2005-April 2006 and the second phase began in 2011 and ended in 2014. “In the first phase, structural cracks in the tomb from the Tughlaq period were repaired. In the second round, Sushant School of Art and Architecture had taken charge as the implementing partner of INTACH to repair the second tomb,” Shikha Jain says. However, not everyone is happy with the restoration that was undertaken by INTACH. Locals say that the conservation work had defaced and altered the original details of the tombs. “They covered all the inscriptions under a fresh coat of plaster. All the carvings were concealed,” a resident of the area says. Jain, however, says that the restoration work was carried out by trained conservation artists. “People raise objections because they are not familiar with conservation work. Recognised conservation architects worked on the project.” She also says that due to a lack of state protection, it becomes difficult to sustain conservation efforts. “We kept asking the government to put the tombs under protection. Unless it is state-protected, the momentum cannot be sustained. Even after conservation, one doesn’t know if they’ll be maintained or destroyed. Locals had anyway started putting up cow dung cakes again,” she says. Officials from the state’s Department of Archaeology and Museums say that plans to take the complex under protection were underway but no timeline for the same could be given. “As of now, the complex is neither under state nor central government protection. We have sent a proposal to the deputy commissioner for a go-ahead, which is pending. Once that is cleared, we can initiate the process of taking the complex under our fold and carry out the delimitation exercise,” Banani Bhattacharyya says.

- https://www.hindustantimes.com/gurugram/a-walk-through-centuries/story-FI4MUSYfyk3wARtdH7eoII.html, September 30, 2019

Walking through the endless, meandering maze of these dunes, a rare geological occurrence in this part of the globe can be a fascinating experience, if you have a knowledgeable guide along with you. Located near Bheemunipatnam, the Erra Matti Dibbalu site is more than 12,000 years old. It was recognised as a national geo-heritage site in 2014 and as a protected site by the Andhra Pradesh Government in 2016. The only other place in the country to have a similar stretch of red sand dunes is Tamil Nadu, which has the Teri dune complex. “Sand dunes, like other geologically-significant sites in and around Visakhapatnam, are Paleo-environmental indicators and these can give vital clues to the past and the future for scientists,” says D Rajasekhar Reddy, advisor to Geo Heritage Cell of INTACH and former professor of Geology, Andhra University. About 18,500 years ago, a major climatic shift took place during the Glacial Maximum Age. This phenomenon, interestingly, is linked to the formation of the red sand dunes. “During that period, the sea had receded about 50 kilometres from the present coastline, with a vertical drop of 120 metres. As a result, the continental shelf was exposed and sand was transported and deposited on land,” explains Reddy. Incidentally, the sand was never the shade of red (as we see it today) back then. “The red colour is a result of geo-chemical alterations that happened over the years,” he states. As you walk around the red sand dunes, you would notice a peculiar characteristic of these hills. The red dunes are neither rocky, nor sand-like, but have an unusual texture that binds them together. Only when you climb over these dunes and walk over the top of this geological site can you get an idea of its vast expanse, spread over more than 100 acres.

Natural arch

A little before Erra Matti Dibbalu is another geologically-sensitive site, perched along the coastline of Thotlakonda. Here one of the most noteworthy geological developments is still in progress. Thousands of years of wind and sand action along the shore has resulted in natural rock formations — something that has turned into a tourist attraction in recent years. Some are in the shape of dunes and others form bridge-like arches, seen better during low tide. This particular coast also teems with marine life, including brown algae and the peacock’s tail. “This particular spot is a live laboratory for researchers and students,” says Reddy. And there is plenty of reason to believe so. “This natural rock formation is still evolving with Nature. The formation began after the last Ice Age at around 10,000 years ago and is similar to the natural rock arch of Silathoranam in the Tirumala Hills,” he adds.

Wonders in Eastern Ghats

Moving towards the Eastern Ghats belt of Visakhapatnam opens up another site of geological significance — a volcanic ash site in Araku. The Geological Survey of India has dated this site to be about 73,000 years old. Here, a large part of land is covered by a 70-centimetre-thick sheet of volcanic ashes, which moved all the way from the Mount Toba volcanic eruption that occurred about 75,000 years ago in Indonesia. “The sites needs to be studied to understand the magnitude of the explosion, climatic condition then and how ash traversed such great distances to settle down in a remote corner of India,” says Reddy. “It is intriguing and provides a major clue in the reconstruction of the geological history of the rocks of the region.” How to get there

Erra Matti Dibbalu: These red sand dunes are located at a distance of 45 kilometres from Visakhapatnam. It is well connected by buses and one can also hire a cab to reach there.

Thotlakonda natural arch: The drive along the coastal stretch from Visakhapatnam towards Thotlakonda Buddhist Site is 36 kilometres. After crossing the site, a signboard mentions the presence of natural rock formations. Park your vehicle at the roadside and walk down towards the beach to discover these geological wonders.

Araku Valley: The scenic valley is situated at a distance of 120 kilometres from Visakhapatnam. It is well connected by train, bus and cabs. #KhabarLive

- http://www.hydnews.net/the-hidden-ecological-places-at-vishakhapatnam-in-ap/, September 30, 2019