Deliberations begin to strengthen claim for Unesco status; representatives from Malayasia, Sri Lanka, Japan, Laos, Nepal, Vietnam and Thailand attend meet.
The city's desire to get 'Unesco World Heritage City' status
for Ahmedabad was boosted at a three-day heritage conference that kicked off here on Sunday. The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) is striving to get the prestigious status for the 600-year-old city.
The three-day international conference on 'Asian World Heritage Cities' is being organised by AMC in association with Unesco, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Indian Heritage Cities Network, and National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA). AMC's efforts to get heritage city status for Ahmedabad assumes importance as despite India's great heritage, not a single city has qualified so far for 'Unesco World Heritage City' status.
On Sunday, the conference was addressed by chief minister Narendra Modi, city mayor Kanaji Thakore, municipal commissioner IP Gautam, Unesco director for India, Armoogum Parsuramen, and ASI director-general Gautam Sengupta.
Gautam presented the proposal containing the details for claiming heritage city status to Parsuramen and Sengupta. He said, "The city has rich historical and architectural legacy and has the potential to achieve the status of a World Heritage City."
Parsuramen said, "Ahmedabad's claim for heritage city status is consistent effort by the people, especially the people residing in the Walled City." Every year only two cities from a country get nomination for claiming the status. Praising the enthusiasm of Amdavadis, Sengupta said: "The involvement of citizens in restoring the city's heritage sites is remarkable, as enthusiasm and activism are more important."
Throwing light on rich heritage and culture of Ahmedabad,
Modi said: "I haven't spent much time in Pol. But Pol area reflects the collective society culture of Ahmedabad."
The conference was attended by representatives from Asian heritage cities in Malayasia, Sri Lanka, Japan, Laos, Nepal, Vietnam, and Thailand.
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