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From: Architexturez-IN <admin-in@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
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Date: Wed, 24 Oct 2007 10:34:55 +0530
BJP wants de-recognition of Champaner Word Heritage Site
Submitted by kashif on Tue, 10/23/2007 - 14:21.
Saffron brigade’s bid to de-recognise a unique world heritage site
representing pluralistic traditions
By Rupa Abdi, TwoCircles.net
....
This site was given the status of World Heritage site by UNESCO in 2004
after 22 years of persistent effort by a Vadodara based NGO, Heritage
Trust, led by a noted architect – Karan Grover. However, a debate is
currently raging among the pro-heritage and anti-heritage lobbies, the
latter being largely fueled by Niraj Jain, a BJP member from Vadodara.
In spite of the obvious advantages to the local people from the world
heritage site status of this area, which include strengthening of the
local economy due to increased tourist influx and consequent reduction
in the labour migration to surrounding cities, the anti-heritage lobby
is complaining against the restrictions put on construction of
commercial and residential structures in the protected zone, lack of
local consultation, and they feel that Muslim monuments are getting more
attention than the Kalika Mata temple, the latter complaint has obvious
communal overtones.
cont'd....
http://www.indianmuslims.info/news/2007/oct/23/bjp_wants_de_recognition_champaner_word_heritage_site.html