Puducherry Government was on Saturday presented `UNESCO Asia Pacific Heritage Award of Merit 2008` for the cultural heritage conservation project for restoration of a street in Puducherry to its ancient architectural features.
UNESCO Programme Officer for Culture Moe Chiba, New Delhi, handed over the award to Lt Governor Govind Singh Gurjar amidst thunderous applause by all those present, including the residents of the houses of the Vysali Street, which have been restored to their ancient glory under the Asia Urbs Programme of European Commission.
The programme was implemented for restoration of ancient heritage and cultural features of the houses by Puducherry Administration and Indian Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) jointly.
Accepting the award, Gurjar said the government was committed to preserving the rich architectural landscape of the Union Territory so that the Franco Tamil architectural buildings and houses could be preserved for posterity`.
The function attended by a large gathering of architects, members of INTACH, officials of Tourism and Local Administration departments among others was organised the in Vysali Street in the heart of the city.