Graffiti on Hyderabad monuments matter of concern: Unesco official after tour

HYDERABAD: Unesco’s programme specialist for culture, Junhi Han, said that graffiti across monuments in the city is a matter of concern while on a tour of Hyderabad on Wednesday.
Han made the observation after a visit to the Golconda Fort which she said was defaced at several places.
“Graffiti could be seen across the heritage structure, even at places that are not easily accessible to the public,” said Han.“The only way to meet this challenge is to put in place a people-centred approach to conservation,” she said, adding that protection of heritage has to keep pace with the pressures of development and a growing population.
Han is the section chief and programme specialist for culture at the Unesco, New Delhi. On Wednesday, she visited Golconda Fort, Qutub Shahi Tombs and the MJ market. She was in the city on the invitation of the Telangana government.
While drawing parallels to other cities with substantial heritage, Han said that Hyderabad has to make several changes. “While it is a tough task, greater cleanliness is a must. Another issue that needs to be addressed is hanging electrical wires,” she said, adding that small changes can go a long way.
Reacting to the issue of graffiti, ASI superintending engineer, Hyderabad circle, Milan Kumar Chauley said, “This is a problem not just at Golconda, but across all monument. The Darbar Hall was opened in April after it was restored with a layer of sibara and paint. Within a few months, there is graffiti all across it.”
Unesco and the Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MAUD) department will be conducting a series of workshops later this year to bring about greater interaction with people on heritage structures. The workshops will include the participation of locals, such as shopkeepers.