Political commitment needed to ensure heritage tag for Ziro valley

Our Correspondent

Itagar, February 14: “A strong political will and commitment from all the stakeholders would be the primary requirement for winning the world heritage site tag for Ziro valley,” said Conservation Architect Ratish nda from Agha Khan Foundation, New Delhi during a meeting with the local consultative committee for world heritage site and the PRI members of the Ziro plateau at Hapoli circuit house on Friday.

The meeting was held particularly to educate all the stakeholders about the World Heritage Recognition from UNESCO and the road map to achieve the award, an official communiqué said here today.

This rare tag would be a tribute to the vision and the intelligence of the ancestors of the plateau, he said and suggested creation of environment and eco-friendly infrastructure and  preparation of a map of the entire proposed site.

In his address, Deputy Commissioner Kanki Darang  also felt the need of mass awareness on WHS campaign.

The people of the plateau has to continue living in harmony with the ture and stop felling trees around as the rain fed plateau depends upon its scared grooves and trees for water retention which feeds the tural springs, said AYA president Taku Chatung.

In the interaction session the PRI members cleared their doubts regarding WHS and extended their cooperation to the consultative committee. The Consultative Committee constituted by the District Administration in its efforts to win this award would spearhead the movement to protect and preserve the Apatani Cultural landscape and to give overall direction to the movement.

The District Magistrate has also issued a prohibitory order under section 133 Cr P C banning all construction activities including construction of houses, buildings  and towers and filling up soil in the paddy fields(WRC) within the Apatani Valley in rural areas.

As the paddy fields have been recognized as the core value of the Apatani Cultural Landscape and such activities would affect the chance of getting WHS and also threatens the fabrics of cultures of Apatani Community, the communiqué added.