Hyderabad gets entry in Pearl City Networks

Hyderabad, July 11 (INN): Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation commissioner MT Krishna Babu on Wednesday informed that Hyderabad city has been selected by Union Ministry for Urban Development under Pearl City Networks under the category of Mega cities with global character in Socio economic profile 'For the India Urban Heritage Demonstration Programme for Heritage Management' along with Ajmer, Pushkerand Varanasi under the categories of cities of cultural and religious significance and hill cities respectively.

The Commissioner informed that this project will be a Heritage Conservation Project aided by World Bank.

Representatives from the World Bank and Inclusive Heritage based City Development Strategy and CEPT University have visited GHMC on Wednesday for the inaugural meeting of 'Inclusive Heritage Based City Development Strategy' for Hyderabad City.

Addressing the gathering, the GHMC Commissioner said that GHMC has taken up certain initiatives in the recent past for the restoration and conservation of Murgi chowk at Charminar and a consultant has been appointed for preparation of DPRs for restoration and conservation of Mozamzahi market complex and Mahboob Mansion Malakpet.

He also informed that GHMC has initiated the strengthening of Heritage Cell and appointed a conservation architect exclusively for heritage cell of GHMC on outsourcing base.

The Commissioner also felt that Heritage Conservation Committee should conduct sensitising programme to civil engineer and architects on preservation of heritage structuretures at regular intervals.

He also suggested that the HCC recommend through HMDA forexemption of property tax for heritage structures, so that GHMC could do the needful.

While giving an overview of Inclusive Heritage based the City Development Strategy (IHCDS) demonstration programme Saswat Dindyopadhyay of CEPT (Centre for Environmental Planning & Technology) Univeristy has informed that they would be providing two Graduates/Urban Planners for strengthening of heritage cell of GHMC.

Chief City Planner V Narender Rao in his key note address on Heritage Management Initiatives in Hyderabad and Heritage Conservation Committee gave a presentation on 'Heritage Regulations and Initiatives in Hyderabad'.

The GHMC Commissioner also informed that a stake-holders meeting would be conducted on Thursday at GHMC Head Office, in this regard. He requested all the interested participants to attend the meeting.