outsourcing: Conservation: ASI and Waqf outsource jobs (one more in the coffin of INTACH)

| important story, citing in full - hope the Hindu editor
| doesn't mind. apropos the major INTACH and affiliated
| NGO litigation - which sank without conclusion, and apropos
| the issuance of guidelines for employment of conservation
| architects (not NGO propelled Cons, as we call them on this
| list) by the request of professionals, ASI intends to
| outsource heritage conservation jobs.
|
| the dominance of certain Cons in the heritage business in
| the country, and their quasi-legal monopoly over distribution
| of jobs is well known (and complained against) in the profession
| we hope the one-con-fits-all professional in India takes notice
| and perhaps try and develop specializations within the profession
|
| we hope to publish data, and perhaps assist in a PIL against the Cons
| in India who have consistently, through the the same means, sought
| to defame ASI. we also demand an independent review, given
| international experts are now welcome at ASI, of the work done by
| the cons, the level of their expertise, the type of research; versus
| what ASI does (and does not brag about)

Heritage conservation goes the outsourcing way

Mandira Nayar

ASI, Wakf Board rope in outside experts for upkeep of Capital's monuments

Winds of change: Safdarjung Tomb in the Capital is in for a spruce-up 
with the help of outside experts. File Photo

NEW DELHI: It will be a year that will usher in a big change for 
heritage in the Capital. With the decks being cleared to draw up 
conservation plans for the Red Fort, Safdarjung Tomb as well as Jama 
Masjid, the three major landmark in the city will now gear up for a 
face-lift but from `non-government' hands.

Waiting for clearance from the finance department of the Ministry of 
Culture, the tender for Red Fort will mark the beginning of this shift 
of involving experts from outside. While the decision to hire experts to 
draw up the conservation plan for Red Fort might not have been 
completely rested with ASI as it had been directed by the Supreme Court 
to hand over conservation of the Fort to outside experts following a 
public interest litigation, but it seems to be following the precedent 
established by the case for other monuments.

"The budget of Archaeological Survey India (ASI) has gone up 
tremendously in the past few years. But with ASI planning to take up 
more monuments under its protective umbrella, manpower will seriously be 
a problem. The ASI is now looking at outsourcing some of its work. 
However, there is no way that we will wash our hands off these 
monuments," said ASI director-general C. Babu Rajeev.

Starting this process in earnest, ASI has also advertised for 
consultants to work on Safdarjung Tomb which is the `home' of the Delhi 
circle. The symbolism of the gesture might have escaped many, but for 
some ASI officials it is still an issue they have not fully adjusted to.

Seen as an attempt to bring in outsiders in their territory, some 
circles are not happy with the decision to outsource. However, 
conservationists believe that involving private consultants will ensure 
that monument will benefit from a whole range of experts that ASI does 
not have on its rolls as the field has become more specialised.

While Jama Masjid is not a protected monument, but ASI had earlier 
conducted some repairs on the monument. However, the Delhi Wakf Board, 
legal caretakers of the building, has now roped in a conservation 
architect to look at the problems of the building and draw up a 
comprehensive plan.

"It is for the first time in history that the Wakf Board has 
commissioned an outside expert to look at the whole building completely 
and make a detailed plan. ASI had been involved in doing work on the 
building whenever it was needed. But now it is being done a professional 
and comprehensive way," an official of the Wakf Board.

Apart from the major monuments, ASI is also looking to bring in experts 
in two colonial buildings in Red Fort. "The tendering process of Red 
Fort is already over. The tender has not been officially awarded as yet, 
but we have finalised the conservation team that will draw up the plan. 
But that is only for the Mughal buildings. However, there are two 
buildings made in 1911 which we will advertise for," said Mr. Rajeev.