SDMC is to revive its heritage conservation wing

NEW DELHI: The South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) is to tie up with private or non-government agencies to restore heritage properties including schools, gateways, tombs and police stations under its jurisdiction. SDMC is the custodian of 475 notified historical buildings.

The municipal corporation also revived its ‘Heritage Conservation Cell’, to achieve the objective, which was un-operational for years. Lieutenant Governor (L-G) Anil Baijal said on Thursday, August 5, that the civic body is undergoing the task of conserving heritage sites under its jurisdiction even with limited resources and financial crunch.

Baijal advised the civic body to work with the private agencies on Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode in order to carry out the conservation activities. L-G Baijal addressed the event for release of the book named ‘Glorious Heritage’ and published by SDMC. The event was also joined by Mayor Mukesh Suryan, SDMC Commissioner Gyanesh Bharti and Additional Commissioner Amin Ahmed Tazir, who is also the Chairman of the heritage conservation cell.

SDMC plans to compile the information about all the 475 heritage sites. The book released is the first of three parts series which contains images and brief history of 108 structures. The oldest site in the list is Anangtal (a pool in Mehrauli) and Daryaganj Police Station, constructed in 1930, is also part of the book.