Heritage Site Nomination Process Begins

The UNESCO team likely to visit India in November, preparations to enlist the names of monuments to be nominated as world heritage sites for the year 2012-13 have begun. In this regard, a meeting of the state apex advisory committee was held in Jaipur under the chairmanship of chief secretary on Thursday. In the meeting, chief secretary CK Mathew directed Jaisalmer district collector Shuchi Tyagi to send a proposal to the state government for starting conservation work of the 857-year- old Sonar Fort, so that if not this year, the fort's can be nominated in the next one or two years. In this meeting, apart from Tyagi, district collectors of Udaipur, Ajmer, Jaipur, Chittorgarh and Sawai Madhopur along with ASI officers, Drona director Shikha Jain including state government's senior officers were present.

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Nominating Sonar Fort

Tyagi, after the meeting, said that the state government intends to nominate the Sonar Fort in next one or two years. She also said that a proposal will soon be sent to the government to remove the vegetable market adjoining the fort's wall. Along with, the municipal council has been directed to remove the four lavatories near the fort's wall. Similarly, it has been instructed to deploy municipal council employees and an employee of ASI at the fort's first gate, Akhe Pole, to prevent illegal construction around the monument.

In the meeting, Rajasthan Urban Infrastructure Development Project (RUIDP) officers were directed to start the work of sewerage line at the earliest and discussions were held with ASI officers to speed up the conservation and repair works. The municipal council has been directed to pay special attention towards the cleanliness of the fort.

Jaisalmer Fort Rajasthan

District collector said discussion was also held on reducing commercial activities in the fort and taking action against hotels and restaurants being run illegally.

Drona director Dr Shikha Jain, who was also present in the meeting, said that at present five forts from the state, namely, Kumbhalgarh, Amer, Gagron, Chittorgarh and Ranthambore have been nominated. But the final decision rests with the state government. Though Sonar Fort is ready as per world heritage standards, the possibility of nominating it will be discussed with UNESCO's world heritage advisory committee.

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