Srinagar, Aug. 9 (PTI): Integrated plans are needed for the preservation of tourist sites in old Srinagar city, recently included in the 100 most endangered heritage sites of the world by World Monument Fund (WMF), its Technical director Mark Weber said.

The river front of Jhelum is the best location to focus on as the possible heritage zone in Srinagar but the city needs integrated plan for preservation, weber, who is here to assess the buildings to be funded by WMF for restoration and preservation, told PTI.

He said the old city has to be looked at as an ensemble and there has to be a project which will attract people back to these places.

"There has to be involvement of local people in terms of neighbourhood association. The government at the city level and other stakeholders in revival of culture and heritage of the city have to play their role," Weber said.

The American preservationist, who was in Leh for three days as part of his visit, said he was impressed the way local people have started preservation of old Leh town.

"Old Leh town can be an example to follow ... there are shortcomings but a beginning has been made," he added.

Weber feels that the river front of Jhelum has huge potential for tourism while it will also provide an economic and cultural revival of the old city.

While WMF has put 838 buildings in the old Srinagar city and heritage buildings on the recommendation of the Jammu and Kashmir chapter of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), the municipal corporation of the area has agreed to put 364 of these on protected list.

"It was a welcome move that the municipal corporation has decided to put such a good number of buildings on the protected list," Convener, INTACH, Saleem Beig said.

"The owners will not be able to either alter or demolish these buildings which are symbols of our culture and heritage. Even the master plan has a stipulation under which the facade of the building has to be retained during renovations," he said.

The departments like tourism, urban development, handicrafts and cultural academy have a stake in the revival of old city and should become part of the Srinagar network for restoring the old glory, he said.

"The skyline of the old city has not changed a bit over the years. while it is tragic that the city is empty, it is ideal situation for conservation efforts," Amita Baig, a heritage management consultant she said.