MP Margani Bharat Ram vows to get heritage city status for Rajamahendravaram

Rajamahendravaram: The ancient city popularly known as 'cultural capital of the state' and 'grand city of culture' is crawling for heritage tag from many years.

Because of the lethargy of former MPs, the city is not included in Heritage City category, though many cities in the country were given heritage tag. Rajamahendravaram is having necessary parameters to get the heritage status and the city was in existence before 2nd BC on the banks of river Godavari and has many heritage structures.

Two years ago, the Union government introduced new project called 'Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY), which was aimed to identify ancient cities and to protect and propagate their heritage structures. Moreover, the cities will get funds from the Union government to develop the cities as tourist spots.

Under the project, the Central government bestowed heritage city status to Amaravati (Andhra Pradesh), Gaya (Bihar), Dwaraka (Gujarat), Badami (Karnataka), Puri (Odisha), Amritsar (Punjab), Ajmer (Rajasthan), Kancheepuram and Velankini (Tamil Nadu), Warangal (Telangana), Madhura and Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh), two years ago.

When contacted, MP Margani Bharat Ram said that he will take up the issue with the Union Ministry of Cultural Affairs in this regard to get heritage city status for Rajamahendravaram.

A detailed report in this regard also will be submitted to the respective Union Ministry shortly, he told. Buddhism also flourished here for a long time as per the findings of Archaeology department based on the structures excavated in 1978. The issue also be taken to the notice of Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy also.

Noted historian YS Narasimha Rao said the ancient city deserved heritage status and Adikavi Nananya Bhattarka translated epic Mahabharatha into Telugu from Sanskrit during emperor Rajaraja Narendra. Many royal dynasties such as Ikshawakulu, Satavahanulu, Vishnu Kundinulu, Chalakyulu, Cholulu, Kakateeyulu, Reddy Rajulu and French, Britishers, Golconda Nawabs and Delhi Sultans ruled the state from the city as capital. Moreover, many heritage structures having 150 to 200 years old are also in the city, he told.