Preservationists Worry 'Progress' May Hurt Indian Heritage Site
By Steve Herman
New Delhi
19 February 2007
....
Architects on both sides of the controversy worry that politics, not
science, will determine how close the improved road comes to the
historic sites. Indian media report that the prime minister's office has
now asked to review the plans.
Patwant Singh says the fact that the Mughals were Muslims, a minority in
modern-day India, might play a role in the decision. He wonders aloud
whether greater care would be taken if the monuments were linked to the
country's majority Hindus.
But architect Sinha bristles at the suggestions that religion might be a
deciding factor.
"We have never, never, never for that matter, looked at the heritage
properties from that angle, because a heritage is a heritage whether it
is Hindu, Christian, Muslim, Sikh or for that matter any other
religion," he said.
Just how close the construction comes to Emperor Humayun's mausoleum
could ultimately be determined by the United Nations Education,
Scientific and Cultural Organization. UNESCO, if duly concerned, could
declare that the construction endangers the World Heritage Site.
Such an action, conservationists here say, would pressure the city
government to detour the road project farther away from the historic
monument.
cont'd....
http://www.voanews.com/english/2007-02-19-voa10.cfm
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media:
http://www.voanews.com/mediaassets/english/2007_02/Audio/rm/herman_india_reservation_19feb07.rm