By Pervez Bari, Twocircles.net,
Bhopal: The Government of France has shown interest in conservation of ancient heritages in two cities of central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh namely Bhopal and Maheshwar.
Members of a French delegation called on Madhya Pradesh Urban Administration and Development Minister Mr. Babulal Gaur here on Wednesday and expressed their interest in this connection. The two-member French delegation comprised of Mr. Christian Lee Petit, Managing Director Urban Planning City of Rheims (France) and Mr. Benjamin Gestin, Culture Representative at French embassy in India. Ms Protima Dee, Project Manager, UNESCO India, New Delhi also accompanied the French delegation.
Members of a French delegation calling on Madhya Pradesh Urban Administration and Development Minister Mr. Babulal Gaur in Bhopal.
The Urban Administration Minister Mr. Gaur accorded a warm welcome to the members of the delegation. The delegation members informed the Urban Administration Minister that the French government is interested in working of projects for conserving and augmenting Bhopal city’s ancient heritages like the French city of Rheims. The French government has identified two cities of Madhya Pradesh – Bhopal and Maheshwar – for conservation of their heritages under its Indian Heritage Cities Network (I.H.C.N).
The delegation members informed that the heritage buildings of Bhopal, which will be taken up for conservation and augmentation works, include Sadar Manzil, Pari Bazaar and three ancient reservoirs – Motia Talab, Siddique Hasan Khan Talab and Munshi Hussain Khan Talab.
Mr. Gaur urged the delegation also to undertake conservation and augmentation of Bhopal’s famous buildings Taj Mahal, Benazir building and Taj-ul-Masajid as also Gwalior’s heritages. The delegation gave assurance in this regard.
It may be mentioned that Urban Administration Minister Mr. Gaur had visited French cities Rheims, Lorient and Paris in September and October 2010. During his visit, Mr. Gaur had expressed desire for chalking out a programme for maintenance of heritages on the lines of Rheims city of France. ([email protected])