Darjeeling Himalayan Railway's UNESCO 'World Heritage' status now under threat
The UNESCO "World Heritage" tag of the 140-year-old Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR), also popularly known as the toy train, is under threat due to the Indian authorities' continuing failure to conserve the same. Due to the lack of proper conservation efforts, UNESCO is taking steps to assess the condition of DHR and ascertain whether it is worth the prestigious global heritage status. Here's more.
UNESCO to send Reactive Monitoring Mission to ascertain DHR's condition
UNESCO is dissatisfied with the information furnished by Indian Railways on conserving DHR and is sending its Reactive Monitoring Mission to ascertain the property's condition jointly with Indian Railways. The Mission comprises experts from World Heritage Committee and International Council on Monuments and Sites. Reactive Monitoring teams are sent when World Heritage Sites are in danger or their heritage tag needs to be removed.
Preventing further erosion of DHR's Outstanding Universal Value
UNESCO will identify priorities for action and frame recommendations for Indian Railways to prevent "further erosion" of DHR's Outstanding Universal Value (OUV). At UNESCO's annual meeting in Azerbaijan, World Heritage Committee red-flagged erosion of attributes of OUV "as a result of management issues faced by the property over the 20 years since its inscription, and failure to implement the recommendations formulated by ICOMOS."
Indian Railways didn't furnish information on heritage conservation norm violations
Despite requests, World Heritage Committee said, Indian Railways failed to furnish information on global heritage conservation norm violations like the lack of monitoring and general maintenance as well as encroachment and waste-dumping along DHR tracks between 2017-19. However, Sanjive Roy, Northeast Frontier Railway's General Manager, said all UNESCO recommendations were being followed, adding that DHR's conservation was the top priority for them.
In constant touch with UNESCO; have been holding meetings: Roy
"We have been in constant touch with UNESCO and have been holding regular meetings...," Roy told The Indian Express. "...The line goes along the road there. On one side, there are houses...on the other, is the road, so a lot of people's movements happen on the line. Sometimes they park vehicles in such a way that the train has to stop etc," he said.
Railway Board warned the Northeast Frontier Railway last year
"We are maintaining the (DHR) line well. We are doing track renewal and pressed into service steam locomotives. So, there is no threat to its heritage value," Roy said. Last year, the Railway Board had warned the Northeast Frontier Railway of these DHR-related issues in a letter but its condition did not improve apparently.
UNESCO included DHR in World Heritage Monuments 20 years ago
DHR was added to UNESCO's World Heritage Monuments 20 years ago. It was described as "an outstanding example of the influence of an innovative transportation system on social and economic development to serve as a model for similar developments in many parts of the world."
