Environmental Planning

Gyandeep Jaiswal 2nd Sem, M.Arch.

SPA New Delhi

Statutory spatial planning tools for sustainable and value-based development of World

Heritage Site

- Nalini Thakur, Shubru Gupta

Review of the article

This paper talks on the necessity of an integrated management plan and the process of achieving this

interface for any heritage site as per the directives of the operational guidelines for the

implementation of the world heritage convention 72.

Taking the case of Hampi, author says that after Hampi was put under the list of world heritage in

danger, an Integrated Management Plan for Hampi was prepared which served as an atelier for

development and management. This triggered in formation of master plan, landuse plan, zonal

regulations and architectural guidelines for a sustainable planned development of this site.

Fig: 1 Model for Integrated Management (Source: Integrated Management plan for Hampi World Heritage Site)

Integrated management plan helped in defining the spatial dimension for integration of heritage

management and planning. And integration of heritage in the landuse plan for the protection of such

heritage through proper listing and nomination and for the management of an area of such

archaeological importance.

Hampi was inscribed as world heritage in 1986, but was declared as world heritage in danger by

UNESCO in 1999 due to the construction of two bridges which were coming across the Tungabhadra

River which would have affected the natural setting and integrity of the site in an adverse manner.

After this action by UNESCO, many local, national and international agencies pitched in to stop the

construction of those bridges and formulation of certain guidelines so that this kind of developmental

activity along any heritage site should not come.

When the international directives were rooted in the Indian reality, there were certain lacuna with

several sectors including planning, infrastructure development and local governance, etc. So there

was formation of Hampi World Heritage Area Management Authority Act 2002 for the site. This

became a critical tool for the management as it recommended an interface which demonstrated how

varied sectors can work together for the purpose of heritage management.

Environmental Planning

Gyandeep Jaiswal 2nd Sem, M.Arch.

SPA New Delhi

This paper is based on a long term effort to develop an effective heritage management and protection

in the south Asian scenario through its methodologies and framework. It also puts up a theoretical

approach in understanding Indian heritage as knowledge system through a holistic approach towards

a heritage site or complex. Integrated management plan is a new concept and first of its kind in India

applied for Hampi World Heritage Site.

Fig 2: plan showing the boundary of the Hampi world heritage site showing the protected, prohibited and the buffer zone.

Indian cultural identity is defined by its rich and diverse heritage, and thus it is of high value and

significance. The introduction of management plan offers an opportunity for inclusive and sustainable

interface from the international perspective to the World Heritage Site. In India heritage management

and protection is still in darkness. There is a complex system followed in India where it is impossible

to handle or improvise for comprehensive management system as most of the heritage complex and

living heritage are mostly outside legal and official framework.

Comparison with a similar article: Integrated Management Tools in the Heritage of South-

East Europe

- Rob Pickard

The basic aim of spatial planning is to provide balanced spatial development, rational arrangement

and use of space, suitable conditions for human life and work, protection and improvement of the

environment and nature, and protection of cultural-historical treasures, with protection from

destruction by war or natural and technological disasters.

This book also talks of a similar kind of approach towards the heritage protection and management

but in a European context. The process of planning of the heritage should be at a national as well as

Environmental Planning

Gyandeep Jaiswal 2nd Sem, M.Arch.

SPA New Delhi

local level. According to the law of protection of the Cultural Heritage, integrated conservation of the

cultural heritage is established through co-operation between institutions responsible for protection

of cultural heritage and management and all stages of preparation, adoption or change of plans. This

is basically how to integrate different institutions for the conservation with a planned process. This

process actually helps in following a proper methodology, this also helps in a sensible and sensitive

decision making when working on a heritage area with a holistic approach towards conservation.

The procedure besides involving government institutions, provides for public involvement through

participation in organised expert debate and public opinion surveys. A public opinion survey is

organised on the draft detailed planning documentation for that area. The public opinion survey is

conducted for at least ten days, during which legal entities and interested citizens participate and

write comments on a questionnaire form on what more changes must be incorporated and on what

aspects did the preparing institution missed something or not. This process provides a transparency

and a public participation for an action which makes the people more active and aware of what is

happening for their heritage. Then there is a discussion between the experts on the

comments/feedback by the citizens for the protection of the heritage.

This paper talks on the measures taken for the protection and management of the cultural-historic

heritage site of south east Europe. The difference in the Indian scenario and here are that in European

context after the preparation of the management plan for the heritage site, it is kept for ten days on

a public opinion survey whereas India this system is not followed. If this system is followed, there will

be a community participation which will make the citizen more aware of their heritage so they

themselves will start protecting the heritage.

Five most relevant points discussed in the articles:

1. Integrated management planning is necessary in the Indian scenario as it is a holistic approach

towards protection and management of heritage site. In this approach, local, national and

international agencies work together and there is a provision for public participation.

2. This works on a three levels of management i.e., core management: where fundamental

protection, preservation and management of cultural resource takes place which leads to

integrated management: Interface between heritage protection and development processes

which directs to general management: provision for services, amenities and infrastructure

facilities to improve the general quality of life.

3. It also puts up a theoretical approach in understanding Indian heritage as knowledge system

through a holistic approach towards a heritage site or complex. Which when incorporated on site,

makes the process easier to work.

4. The idea of public participation for the preparation of management plan for the heritage sites by

conducting opinion survey is an idea by which the citizens will get more aware about their heritage

and if their comments gets incorporated the management plan will be more people friendly and

feasible.

5. In India, there are many similar cases which would require such kind of attention for the protection

and management. The concept of integrated management plan seems to be promising in the

Indian scenario as this involves together all the agencies working in various aspects on the same

site.

Environmental Planning

Gyandeep Jaiswal 2nd Sem, M.Arch.

SPA New Delhi

Bibliography

Nalini Thakur, S. G. (2008). Statutory spatial planning tools for sustainable and value-based

development of World Heritage Site. Context, 127-136.

Pickard, R. (2008). Integrated Management Tools in the Heritage of South-East Europe. Europe:

Council of Europe Publishing.