Union tourism minister Chiranjeevi on Wednesday urged Union minister of culture Chandresh Kumari Katoch to forward the dossier on Qutb Shahi tombs in Hyderabad to Unesco for according world heritage site status, which is long overdue.
Chiranjeevi called on Katoch in Delhi and made a request to this effect. Every year, Unesco allows each nation to submit one nomination for world heritage site status. Chiranjeevi pointed out that out of the 30 Unesco heritage sites in the country, AP does not have even one.
In 2010, a nomination dossier and management plan for Qutb Shahi monuments was submitted to Unesco as India’s official entry. In October 2012, an International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) mission was sent to Hyderabad to assess the condition of the monuments and their management.
Chiranjeevi drew the attention of the culture minister that AP’s claim has been pending. Besides, Qutb Shahi monuments include two ASI protected structures. Even the ICOMOS evaluation has been conducted for Qutb Shahi monuments, but despite meeting all the criteria, they are yet to be accorded the special distinction, Chiranjeevi said.
The world heritage site status was a matter of prestige and ensures that the site gets prominence on the world tourism map. Besides, it also means the site is so significant that its preservation becomes the responsibility of the international community.
It entitles the site to get various privileges and assistance for this purpose and attracts international tourists in much larger numbers than now.
Katoch assured Chiranjeevi that the matter would be looked into with all the seriousness, a release by the tourism ministry said.