SO MUCH for the heritage conservation sensitivity of Bhopal Municipal Corporation. Though the BMC established a heritage cell about one-and-half year ago with a lot of big plans and promises, the enthusiasm seems to have frittered off somewhere along the way and heritage conservation has once again taken the backseat where it had always been relegated.
The meeting of the heritage cell has not been convened from more than 10 months, there has been no new plan of action to utilise the sum of Rs 10 lakh that had been earmarked in this year’s budget and even the regular conservation activity at the Sadar Manzil, which was restored recently, seems to have stopped.
When asked, corporator Mahira Salamuddin, also a member of BMC’s heritage cell, said that no meeting of this cell was organised since September last. Mahira expressed helplessness and said she has made repeated requests to the authorities in this regard.
She said that there is lot to do for the heritage conservation in Bhopal, as some proposals in this regard are being included in the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.
Recently, the BMC had carried out some works with heritage conservation organisation - INTACH - to conserve some parts of Sadar Manzil. It was suggested that this part should be closed as the people used to deface the walls and floor. However, the suggestion is yet to be implemented. The BMC spent some Rs 5 lakh on the work.
Recently, the BMC had carried out some works with heritage conservation organisation - INTACH - to conserve some parts of Sadar Manzil. It was suggested that this part should be closed as the people used to deface the walls and floor. However, the suggestion is yet to be implemented. The BMC spent some Rs 5 lakh on the work.