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Corporates adopt heritage sites, monuments

Several heritage sites and historical monuments like Konark's Sun Temple, Golconda Fort and Qutub Minar are being adopted by private firms and public sector units for their upkeep and maintenance under a scheme evolved by the Tourism Ministry.

The ministry has floated a National Cultural Fund, or NCF, to involve industrial houses and public sector firms in this process to preserve the heritage sites in different parts of the country, Tourism and Culture Minister Ananth Kumar said.

"It is donor specific and contributions are hundred per cent tax exempted. We have mobilised Rs 400 million since the NCF came into being seven months ago to look after eight heritage sites," he said.

There were over 3,600 monuments and sites to be looked after, but the budget allocation of his ministry was 'meagre', Kumar lamented.

"Rs 800 million worth of non-plan and Rs 350 million plan expenditure has been earmarked for this purpose. This amounts to Rs 6,000 per monument per annum which is nothing," he said.

While the Oberoi Group of Hotels had taken up Qutub Minar for upkeep and beautification, public sector National Aluminium Company, or NALCO, and Golconda Fort were looking after Konarak's Sun Temple by the WelcomGroup.

In Varanasi, 32 ghats on the banks of the Ganges were also being proposed to be given to such firms and groups for maintenance and beautification, as was the Somnath Temple.

The Oberois would not only construct barbed wire fencing around the Qutub, but also beautify the surroundings, develop the landscape and create resting-places and public utilities in the area.

After these groups signed the memoranda of understanding with the ministry, they would come out with project report which would be finalised in consultation with the NCF and the Archaeological Survey of India.

PTI

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