Govt to re-submit Delhi's name for UNESCO World Heritage tag

Two weeks after taking charge of the Tourism Department, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has decided to appeal to the central government to take up the nomination of Delhi as a UNESCO World Heritage City.

Sisodia asserted that in 2013, the Aam Aadmi Party-led government had nominated Delhi as a World Heritage City, and the UPA-led Centre had also approved the nomination.

However, later, the NDA-led Centre cancelled Delhi's nomination and put the name of Ahmedabad. This year, UNESCO declared Ahmedabad a World Heritage City.

"Delhi is not only the Capital of India, but a city with a heritage site at every corner," the Delhi government noted, saying that many such heritage sites are also approved by the UNESCO, which would make it appropriate to nominate Delhi as a Heritage City.

"Every year, only one city can be nominated from a country to the UNESCO.

We were the first government to file Delhi's nomination at the UNESCO panel, but unfortunately, it was withdrawn after BJP came to power," said sources in the Delhi government.

In an attempt to make Delhi more attractive to visitors, Sisodia said the government will take several steps in the coming days.

The Minister has already informed officials of the Tourism department to make a list of priorities. Sources said a thorough beautification of the heritage sites is likely to start.

The government informed that as a procedure Siosdia will first put the nomination for Cabinet approval.

He will also discuss the matter Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal. After approval from the LG, the matter will be sent to the Centre.

The decision to grant Heritage City status to Ahmedabad was taken at the 41st session of the World Heritage Committee in Kraków, Poland.

According to earlier reports, the committee selected the city acknowledging the preservation efforts in keeping the fabric intact.

Adviser to Delhi Chief Minister and AAP leader Atishi Marlena said: "We do not have any issue with Ahmedabad becoming a UNESCO World Heritage City.

"We are against the cancellation of Delhi's nomination, because being the Capital of India it deserves this nomination."

She added that the Maharashtra government had also filed the nomination for Mumbai.