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MoU between Central govt and Yatra.com to be signed soon despite scheme being panned for ‘leasing out’ national heritage to private players.

New Delhi: Clean water, wheelchairs and ramps and free WiFi connection, that’s what will be made available by Yatra.com at the Qutub Minar, the monument it is ‘adopting’ under the Central government’s widely panned ‘Adopt-a-Heritage’ scheme.

The agreement between the government and Yatra.com, an online travel agency, is in the final stages, and the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the ministries of Culture, Tourism and Yatra could be signed “any day now”, sources in the government said.

The MoU, accessed by ThePrint, has been signed by the Tourism Ministry, and is awaiting the final approval from the Culture Ministry.

The move comes months after the Dalmia Group ‘adopted’ Delhi’s Red Fort as part of the scheme. The private entity that adopts such heritage structures is called a ‘Monument Mitra’.

Also read:Adopt-a-heritage: Controversial Dalmia deal to adopt Red Fort put on hold

Clean water, wheelchairs…

According to the MoU, Yatra, will provide clean drinking water, free WiFi connection, wheelchairs and ramps for better accessibility, audio-guide and proper signage at the 12th century minaret over a period of five years. However, some minor changes could be made in the MoU before it is finally signed.

The MoU with Yatra does not include any semi-commercial activities like a sound and light show, and will allow “limited visibility” to the group since the government does not want the deal to be commercial in nature.

“For example, Yatra could be allowed to hand out umbrellas to the tourists with company logos instead of banners in the monument to ensure limited visibility,” a source in the Tourism Ministry said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

Other ‘adoptions’

Yatra will adopt three more monuments — Hazara Rama Temple in Hampi in Karnataka, Ajanta Caves in Maharashtra and the Leh Palace in Jammu and Kashmir.

Although the deal with the Dalmia Group that adopted Red Fort in April has drawn criticism from the opposition, the government has since signed at least six more MoUs under the scheme.

These include the Gandikota Fort in Andhra Pradesh with the Dalmia Bharat Group, Mt. Stok Kangri in Jammu & Kashmir and Gangotri Temple in Uttarakhand with Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI), Suraj Kund in Haryana with Bliss Inns Pvt. Ltd. and Jantar Mantar in Delhi with Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels Ltd.

While talks for the Taj Mahal with GMR Group and ITC Ltd. are underway, the government wants to be doubly sure before the monument, mired in controversy, is adopted by a private group, the official in the Tourism Ministry told ThePrint.

“We’d like to finalise the Taj with a group which has already done good work in another monument,” the official said.

Also read: Up-close: The new-look Sunder Nursery, a world heritage site Delhi had forgotten

Criticism against the scheme

The scheme was widely panned by both the opposition and civil society at the time of the launch for allegedly “leasing out” national heritage to private players, and abdicating government responsibility.

According to sources in the Tourism Ministry, even the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) was initially resistant to the scheme because it broke its “monopoly” over monuments.

However, the government, including the ASI, has subsequently clarified on several occasions that the private groups have only been engaged for maintenance of certain services, and conservation will continue to be looked after solely by the ASI.

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