Within six months of state government announcing itsdecision to complete the formalities as required by UNESCO for designatingNeolithic site of Burzahom as World Heritage Site, the ground situation at thesite has turned bad to worse. With no government oversight, the creepingencroachments and open vandalisation have created a situation where expertswarn that forget world heritage status, Burzahom site faces delisting from evententative list of UNESCO.
Last December advisor to Governor Khurshid Ahmed Ganaiconvened a meeting to discuss modalities for preparation of the dossier forsubmission to UNESCO. Ganai asked the Culture Department to float expression ofinterest for engaging a consultant to prepare the dossier and help in filingthe nominations with UNESCO. The successful proposal would have moved Burzahomfrom tentative list to permanent list of world heritage site. “Considering theimmense historical significance of these sites, their inscription on the UNESCOList of World Heritage Sites will bring in much-needed international attentionand appreciation to the gardens and Neolithic site. It will also increase thefootfall of foreign tourists, researchers, students and prove to be an economicdriver besides preservation,” the official statement read at that time.
However the ground situation at Burzahom has turned from badto worse particularly during these months. A visit of concerned team of citizensrecently found that the 5000 year old site has been turned into a sports field.”Burzahom site has become a playground where cricket tournaments are regularlybeing held, tents pitched, rollers used, megaliths defaced and vehicles broughtin with ease without any consideration of the vital site,” said Salim Beigh,state convener of INTACH, who was also part of the team.