LSG faces criticism for skipping dedicated World Heritage Day event in Jaipur

Jaipur: The Local Self Govt (LSG) department came under criticism Saturday for failing to organise any dedicated programme to mark World Heritage Day, despite being responsible for the maintenance and preservation of the Walled City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.The Jaipur Municipal Corporation officials said a cleanliness drive launched in the morning was treated as the civic body’s observance of the occasion. According to officials, the municipal commissioner and staff were on the ground from 7am as part of the campaign aimed at promoting a clean, beautiful and well-organised Jaipur.The drive, however, did not cover several historic locations inside the Walled City and instead extended to many non-heritage areas outside the old city. The absence of a formal heritage-focused event drew criticism, especially as the JMC Heritage Cell is the nodal agency tasked with safeguarding Jaipur’s historic core.A senior LSG department official admitted it was disappointing that the agency responsible for preserving the UNESCO site did not host even a single event to commemorate World Heritage Day.While the JMC limited its observance to the sanitation campaign, several other institutions and private groups organised heritage-related programmes across Jaipur. The City Palace Museum and Albert Hall hosted events, including talks by historians, town planners and architects. Private organisers held public outreach activities to engage residents with the city’s heritage.Conservation architect Chandni Choudhary said her group organised a heritage walk from Badi Chaupar to Chhoti Chaupar, passing through old lanes, sanctuaries, royal routes and vantage points such as Isar Lat to highlight Jaipur’s planning, lived reality and historical legacy.