Heritage in ruins

KOCHI: The fate of the Fort Kochi-Mattanchery Heritage Conservation Project proposed by the Corporation is hanging in the balance owing to the delay by the State Government in allotting funds. The project, that will be implemented with the technical assistance of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), is proposed mainly for the conservation and management of the heritage zone of Fort Kochi and Mattanchery.But for the project to head for a takeoff, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UNESCO, the state government and the Corporation has to be signed.“We have already requested the state government to advance the documents to the department concerned. The work of the project can be started only after inking the MoU,” Corporation Town Planning Committee chairman K J Sohan said.At a meeting convened in the Capital city in June last year, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had said the government would provide Rs 15 crore for the heritage project. The total cost of the project is Rs 50 crore.“However no allocation was made in this year’s state annual budget for the project. The UNESCO representative authorities are also keenly awaiting the government’s decision,” he said.Once the MoU is signed, the civic body will have to initiate further steps, including the setting up of a heritage house.“Prior to that, we have to organise a workshop for various stakeholders. If the documents are cleared and MoU is signed, we can organise the workshop by June or July,” Sohan said.The technical experts from UNESCO have already prepared a detailed report on the list of activities and projects that are needed for the protection, conservation and maintenance of the heritage resources of Fort Kochi and Mattanchery.The projects will be implemented based on this report.Key Proposals Some of the key proposals included in the UNESCO’s report are the maintenance and revitalisation of Mattanchery Street, renovating Fort Kochi boat jetty and bus station, Mattanchery Palace and maintenance of Kalvathy canal.However, with the State Government failing to take a final decision on the fund allocation, the future of the much-talked about project is almost uncertain now.