Need for regular maintenance of historical monuments: Alva

Dehra Dun, Apr 27 (PTI) Uttarakhand Governor Margaret Alva today advocated the need for regular maintenance of the country's historical monuments, saying it was important for long term growth of international tourism. "Unprecedented pressure on land due to unplanned rapid growth in the vicinity of some monuments needs to be given immediate attention by the various agencies concerned with the development, planning protection as well as preservation of monuments," she said speaking at the launch of a documentary film titled 'The man who saved the Taj Mahal' at the Raj Bhawan auditorium here. Emphasising the need for saving historical monuments, Alva said unsustainable industrial development activities and automobile exhaust laden with sulphur and lead have caused "irreparable" loss to our precious heritage. "There is, therefore, a compelling need to work towards conservation of archaeological monuments and sites," she said."Some policy must be evolved to have a programme for their complete documentation and saving them from degradation for which voluntary organisations that are well versed with this type of work and expertise can be involved," the Governor said.The 56-minute documentary film is based on the efforts of senior lawyer and Magsaysay awardee M C Mehta in saving the Taj Mahal from degradation and degeneration caused by polluting industries through public interest litigation. It is written and directed by Toronto-based Shri Jay Bajaj.Alva hoped the film would help sensitise it's viewers on the twin aspects of public interest litigation in India and the importance of protection of archaeological monuments from unfettered development activities.The Governor also praised the "stellar role" played by courts in India in delivering justice and setting precedents in public interest litigation cases.