By IANS,
Agra : A four-day convention of Unesco experts on “visual integrity” of world heritage monuments began here Wednesday evening.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and union Minister of Culture Chandresh Kumari Katoch failed to turn up for the inaugural ceremony.
More than 70 experts from 35 countries are attending the conference to discuss policies.
The working groups will discuss cities and urban areas, archaeological sites and cultural landscapes, monuments and individual buildings and natural sites.
The delegates will visit Taj Mahal, the Agra Fort and the Fatehpur Sikri complex, all three world heritage sites.
Speakers at the inaugural session stressed the importance of visual integrity around heritage monuments.
Commenting on the convention, Surendra Sharma, president of the Braj Mandal Heritage Conservation Society told IANS: “Agra with three world heritage monuments provides a classic example of how lack of urban planning and failure of executive agencies can not only disfigure the ambience and surroundings but also dwarf the heritage buildings.”
The smaller historical monuments are in grave danger of disappearing in course of time, Sharma added.