By Ashish Mehta
IANS
New Delhi : The cultural and architectural heritage of four Indian towns now figure on a list of the 100 most endangered sites in the world.
They are Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, the Buddhist town of Leh in the state, Amber town in Rajasthan and Chettinade in Tamil Nadu.
Also endangered is the Jantar Mantar observatory in Jaipur, according to the World Monument Fund (WMF), which released its latest ranking this week.
WMF is a private, non-profit organisation dedicated to the preservation of endangered architectural and cultural sites around the world.
Through Watch Listings, selected by a panel of experts and announced every two years, WMF "encourages community support and highlights the need for technical and financial resources to assist in the rescue of endangered sites".
There might be hope for the five Indian sites, as the WMF notes: "Since the launch of the Watch in 1996, more than 75 percent of the sites have been saved or are well on their way, thanks to timely intervention."
Calling Srinagar a heritage zone, the WMF says it is facing developmental pressures.
The city was founded between the Jhelum and Dal Lake in the mid-third century BC. Its most famous monuments, including the Shalimar and Nishat Gardens, were built after Mughal emperor Akbar captured Kashmir in the 16th century.
During the British occupation in the 18th-19th century, colonial-style colleges, hospitals and courts were constructed. The downtown city has less well-known mosques, temples, hamams and bazaars.
"Together, these buildings represent an unusually intact pre-modern urban environment. Demand for land in historic areas of Srinagar is raising the commercial value of many residential buildings, which are being sold, demolished and converted into modern dwellings or shopping malls," WMF says on its website.
"Unplanned and unregulated development schemes and a lack of basic amenities make Srinagar perhaps the most threatened yet valuable site in India."
Adding that the militancy in the region also poses a threat, it says that the Watch Listing may lend "timely support" to ongoing conservation efforts and help increase public awareness.
As for Leh, also facing developmental pressures and environmental threats, WMF takes note of its first buildings-fortification walls, temples and a royal residence, which were built in the early 15th century.
"When the Indian government began building the first navigable roads through the region in the 1960s, many of Leh's Old Town gates and walls were demolished, some as recently as the 1980s. Nonetheless, Leh has managed to retain much of its historic character, comparable in scale and design to pre-1950 Lhasa."
WMF points out that 55 percent of the 189 historic or traditional buildings in the old town are in poor condition, requiring maintenance or repair if they are to survive another decade.
As seismic activity coupled with the impacts of climate change, including increased heavy rainfalls in recent years, accelerate the deterioration of traditional buildings throughout Ladakh, WMF has called for steps to protect landmark buildings and improve civic infrastructure.
Jantar Mantar, built in 1729 by ruler Sawai Jai Singh II and reconstructed in 1901, is "one of the most accurate pre-modern (astronomical) observatories".
"Some of the instruments, or yantras, are still in use to forecast weather and crop yields. These include constellation and meridian observatories, and a giant sundial.
"However, the site has begun to deteriorate once again as a result of weathering, vandalism, and normal wear and tear of materials. The most urgent issue is the loss of the fine, calibrated markings on the instruments, which are eroding. These need to be restored in order to protect the historic function of these extraordinary instruments."
Amber town was first occupied as the fortified citadel of legendary Rajput clan Kachwahas in the 11th century and it was embellished with a series of impressive monuments during the next seven centuries.
"With recent increases in tourism to Rajasthan, more than 3,000 visitors a day now come to the town, which also remains a sacred destination for Jain and Hindu pilgrims, who visit the city at festival times.
While the Kachwaha palace is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India, other historic buildings are falling into decay.
As land prices go up along with tourism boom, old buildings are being razed to make way for shops and hotels. WMF calls for involving the town community, including private property owners, in conservations efforts.
Established in the 19th century by the Chettiars, Chettinad is famous for its opulent palaces and temples.
"The residential buildings preserved from the Chettiar settlements incorporate both local and western architectural traditions in their plans and decoration… The Chettiar structures are still admired for their fine craftsmanship and materials used in their decoration today."
But a substantial number of Chettinad's buildings have been razed since the 1940s, and many of those that remain are in a dilapidated state.
"Much of the destruction has been caused by commercial interest in antiques, with decorative elements from many structures being removed for sale or use in private homes. A few of the palaces have been restored as hotels and others are partially occupied by local families," says WMF.