Gujarat Confidential: ‘Save Heritage’

Days after the crumbling pillars of the iconic 16th century landmark Mandvi Gate of Vadodara brought back the focus on the much-neglected state of heritage structures in the city, Vadodara BJP MP Hemang Joshi on Tuesday dashed a letter to newly appointed Municipal Commissioner Arun Babu, pointing out that the city needed a dedicated Heritage Department to look into the persistent troubles. In his letter to Babu, Joshi said that it was his “earnest request” to “prioritise the upkeep and conservation of the grand heritage that Vadodara city has been handed down” by taking away the responsibility from the Futuristic Cell. Joshi said that the Futuristic Cell was “too occupied with other issues and hardly prioritised heritage problems”. The MP has also urged the Municipal Commissioner to “take matters into his hands” or form a new department to resolve issues related to heritage conservation in the city.