UNESCO works for DHR stakeholders : August 25, 2002
A two day long workshop will be held by the UNESCO at Darjeeling and Siliguri
from 30th July. The objective is to involve local communities in the
upkeep of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway.
The workshop is especially significant
as the stakeholders will finalise a fixed time frame for the various
projects identified by them in the seminar. The Unesco expert consultant
Mr. Rajesh Agarwal expects some tie-ups with local agencies during
the workshop. He informed that the seminar will try to cover all
the facts, which are acknowledged by the stakeholders.
He mentioned that the issues like water management, environment,
water supply and sanitation are already notified and issues like
GIS, infrastructure, conservation, education, tourism and tea are
likely to be discussed.
In the previous workshop a French team for the development of the
DHR made an offer of co-operation. It was the result of the understanding
reached between French and UNESCO for the conservation of the world
heritage in1997. But the offer did not materialise later.
In this workshop some concrete commitments are expected and the
UNESCO is looking towards DGHC (the hill council) to play a vital
role in this regard.
Although the UNESCO have not yet generated any fund for the projects
related to DHR, the agencies autonomously approached the European
Commission for help regarding the development of DHR.