Mysore among six cities selected under heritage-friendly master plan

Four-day meet on Indian Heritage Cities Network begins

He was speaking after inaugurating third biennial conference of the Indian Heritage Cities Network at Infosys campus, Hootagalli in the city.

The four day meet has been organised jointly by UNESCO, New Delhi, Indian Heritage Cities Network Foundation (IHCNF), Mysore City Corporation and Karnataka Urban
Infrastructure Development and Finance Corporation Ltd., (KUIDFC).

The minister said the afore said plans will cover- Mysore, Srirangapatna, Bidar, Kittur, Bijapur and Gulbarga.

Also, to make a concrete start in conservation of heritage buildings, heritage will be made a component while preparing city development plan (CDP) by urban local bodies.

Saying that the tourism co-exists with heritage, the minister said Mysore is one such city, whose heritage structures attract tourists in hordes, both domestic and foreign.

He appealed to the Mysoreans to take pride in protecting such structures for future generation. He termed the opening of IHCNF office at the good old building opposite Fire Brigade in Saraswathipuram, as a  strange coincidence.

The building that dates back to the time of Maharaja’s, has many untold stories in its womb to tell and the foundation has made a good beginning by selecting the place.

Medical Education and District In-charge Minister S A Ramdas said plans are on the anvil to form a committee towards conservation of heritage and distribute books on heritage to tourist guides to facilitate tourists with accurate information.

He said that the protection of heritage is equal to protecting lost glory. Saying that Mysore alone has 236 heritage buildings, the minister said that the government is taking steps to protect the same- tangible and intangible.

UNESCO representative from New Delhi, Takahiko Makino said that the good public transport helps sustenance of the city, besides heritage that could propel country’s economy.

IHCN-F advisor MInja Yang said owning a car is no more a luxury in western countries, when compared to India, where it has become a symbol of success. She disclosed that UNESCO will be hosting a seminar on ‘Historic landscape’ in December.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the State Government, IHCN-F, MCC and District Administration on heritage conservation.

Mayor Pushpalatha T  B Chikkanna,  Deputy Mayor M J Ravikumar, Additional Chief Secretary Subhir Hari Singh, Secretary Shambu Dayal Meena, KUIDFC MD Aravind Srivastava, Deputy Commissioner Harsh Gupta and others were present.