FOR POSTERITY: Guidelines formulated under JNNURM will assist in conservation of heritage structures. — PHOTO: M.A. SRIRAM

MYSORE: The Government has formulated guidelines to assist cities identify heritage component and formulate a strategy for its protection, conservation and further development.

The guidelines made available in the form of a tool kit have been conceived by experts and will come in handy for the heritage conservation of Mysore (as also other cities renowned for heritage) under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).

The guidelines have been specifically designed to highlight the role that heritage plays in the socio-economic and cultural profile of the cities identified for their heritage component under the JNNURM.

It suggests how heritage can be utilised to re-shape and revitalise the economy and culture of a city; and rests on the premise that heritage is an important lever for rejuvenating the economy and quality of life.

According to the guidelines, both protected and unprotected heritage buildings and sites require to be located on a city map, in relation to road connectivity and other major infrastructure.

The purpose of mapping is to identify significant concentration of listed buildings within the wards of a city. These wards should be identified as heritage zones and each such zone or ward should form an integral part of the City Development Plan, according to the guidelines.

Emphasising the importance of local participation in such an exercise, the guidelines stipulate the involvement of civil society, organisations, trade and industry, though listing is a technical activity.

Database

The objective of listing the heritage monuments and structures is not only to ensure their conservation, but also to create a databank of heritage property, with details on their status and condition, and to map the listed property in order to identify a heritage zone and to determine the potential and priorities for heritage-related tourism.

The guidelines point out that such listings will also help determine the potential and priorities for re-use of heritage structures as hotels, museums and cultural places, help in heritage regulation, monitoring of heritage property, additions and alterations, and assist in establishing the ownership of private heritage property.

The authorities have been instructed to document and assess urban heritage with comprehensive analysis of the existing status while stipulating a review of the institutions responsible for the management of heritage in the city with adequate details on their mandate and responsibilities relating to their upkeep.

Funding sources

There is special emphasis on the financial aspects of heritage management.

Authorities have been asked to identify sources for budgetary support in relation to the needs, and to document the sources of non-budgetary support for heritage, if any, spell out the composition of the budgetary support in terms of wages and salaries, and maintenance of heritage and related infrastructure.

The focus of the analysis should be on adequacy of the financial support for protection and maintenance of heritage, and the extent to which deterioration of heritage structures may be attributed to financial constraints, the guidelines say.

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