UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE COMMITTEE EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER ‘DARJ’
UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee has expressed concern over Indian Railways’ stewardship of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway.
A report submitted to the committee by UNESCO India has identified a “wide range of problems” with the narrow gauge railway, which was awarded World Heritage status in 1999.
These include “poor maintenance, encroachments by illegal construction, and the lack of an agreed conservation ‘buffer zone’ along the 55-mile route”. Two stations damaged by riots in 2017 have not been repaired.
UNESCO adds that it has received no replies to its four official requests for updates and information, and a response from Indian Railways is awaited.
In its response, the World Heritage Committee endorses the concerns, but acknowledges that IR has funded a ‘Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan’ (CCMP) for the DHR, which is nearing completion.
The committee has asked the Indian government to invite a ‘Reactive Monitoring Mission’, which would assist IR in determining the DHR’s current state and priorities for action.
Paul Whittle, vice chairman of the DHR Society, said: “The DHR presents Indian Railways with all manner of challenges; unstable terrain, monsoon washouts, periodic political unrest and a lack of planning controls along its boundaries. In recent years, much money and effort has resulted in more tourist services, better quality carriages and an improved financial performance; however, the lack of clearly defined conservation standards has resulted in the deterioration, or loss, of some of the line’s unique features.
“We are actively engaged with both Indian Railways and UNESCO (with documentation relating to the CCMP) providing whatever help is requested to preserve the long-term future of this outstanding World Heritage railway.”