Expressing fears and doubts regarding what the bifurcation of the state will bring for heritage sites across Andhra Pradesh, the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has demanded a heritage audit to be conducted on all historically valuable buildings and artifacts to ascertain the damage done and recommend steps to be taken for division of cultural assets post-bifurcation.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, convener of the Hyderabad chapter of INTACH P Anuradha Reddy said this audit must be conducted with the involvement of the Department of Archeology of Andhra Pradesh. ‘’The audit will help in determining the basis on which these artifacts will be divided,’’ she said.

The creation of  the Telangana state, the convener feels, will do more harm to monuments, historically significant buildings and culturally important artifacts than the last 66 years have done.

Citing the example of the old Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly built in 1913, she said that the building will be renovated and this will destroy its identity as an important cultural landmark of Hyderabad.

‘’The old Assembly has not been given the official status of a heritage site because it makes it easier to destroy it because there will be less resistance from the people’s bodies,’’ she felt.

Anuradha Reddy, along with co-convener, Sajad Sahid, pointed out that no committee has been set up to look into the repercussions of bifurcation on heritage sites.

Bringing to light an alarmingly true trend, Anuradha Reddy said that no political party has mentioned the protection of historic sites and culturally significant artifacts in their manifestos.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by Express News Service – Hyderabad / April 23rd, 2014