More monuments such as Red Fort to come under ‘adopt a heritage’ project: KJ Alphons

Notwithstanding criticism over the government’s decision to give Red Fort to a corporate for upkeep, tourism minister KJ Alphons on Wednesday insisted that his ministry will expand the ‘adopt a heritage site’ project to put more monuments under private care.

The minister also attacked the Congress for opposing the initiative, saying the opposition party has a “poor memory” and they are forgetting that they had also engaged a private player to maintain and operate the iconic Humayun Tomb.

Alphons told PTI that he was not worried about the controversy over the adoption of the Red Fort by the Dalmia Bharat Group and rejected reports that the 17th century monument was being ‘handed over’ for Rs 25 crore to the corporate house under the ‘adopt a heritage’ scheme.

“It is an executive decision taken by the government to sign the MoU. No changes to the present project will be done. We will only expand the project to include more such sites and monuments,” Alphons said.

Explaining the ‘adopt a heritage’ project , the minister said its aim is to entrust heritage sites and monuments and other tourist sites to private sector companies, public sector companies and individuals for the development of tourist amenities.

Alphons said that during the UPA rule, Humayun’s Tomb was given to the Agha Khan Foundation for maintenance and operation, while the Indian Hotels Company was given the responsibility of the Taj Mahal, and Apeejay Group of Hotels for Jantar Mantar under corporate social responsibility through the government’s National Culture Fund (NCF).

“The Congress suffers from poor memory... and the UPA had given five monuments to private bodies. It was a great experiment, but it had some issues. We have repackaged the initiative and making sure it works,” he said.

The minister also emphasised that under the new scheme the corporates have to spend money and the government will not give any funds. “Here all they get is some branding, and for that too, they will need our approval.”

Alphons said that during the UPA rule, Humayun’s Tomb was given to the Agha Khan Foundation for maintenance and operation, while the Indian Hotels Company was given the responsibility of the Taj Mahal, and Apeejay Group of Hotels for Jantar Mantar under corporate social responsibility through the government’s National Culture Fund (NCF).

The minister also emphasised that under the new scheme the corporates have to spend money and the government will not give any funds. “Here all they get is some branding, and for that too, they will need our approval.”

The minister added that “everyone talks about our 5000 year old heritage, but no one will lift a finger to preserve it.

“This is our way of getting the community involved, of telling them to own their heritage. There is nothing wrong in letting corporates do their bit under CSR,” he said.