Railways set to sign MoU with stakeholders on conservation of DHR

Darjeeling: The Railways is all set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) with different stakeholders to ensure their participation in the conservation and preservation of the world heritage Darjeeling Himalayan Railways (DHR).

The Railways is commemorating 20 years of the DHR being inscribed as a world heritage by UNESCO on December 5, 1999. A month-long commemoration has been chalked out by the Railways.

The commemoration was flagged off on Wednesday from Darjeeling and will continue till December 5 with a grand closing ceremony.

"There are many railways around the globe that have been inscribed as world heritage. The whole community, local government and organisations have come together to preserve these sites. It is not the duty of the railways alone to preserve and carry forward the heritage tag of the DHR. The entire Hill community and tourists, along with other stakeholders like the state government, Gorkhaland Territorial Administration, municipalities, Forest department and tea gardens have to come together to preserve this industrial heritage. It is a unique cultural landscape comprising the three components Darjeeling, Himalayas and the Railways," stated Vinita Srivastava, Executive Director (Heritage,) Railway Board.

A UNESCO team aided by the Railways has been preparing a Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan (CCMP) for the DHR.

"Under the CCMP, all the stakeholders will be given particular responsibilities to ensure that the outstanding universal value in no way gets reduced or depleted. For this, the Railways will sign MoUs with all the stakeholders in December. A UNESCO team will also be visiting Darjeeling to review the 20 years of heritage tag to the DHR," stated R K Verma, divisional railway manager, Katihar division.

9 MoUs will be signed with the stakeholders, added Srivastava.