INTACH moots for Heritage legislation

New Delhi, Sep 3 (UNI) Calling for enactment of a 'heritage' legislation, Chairman of INTACH S K Mishra today said that such a legislation was needed to protect the country's cultural monuments, its traditions, crafts, language and folklores.

He lamented that many languages were 'disappearing' and several art forms have become a part of history. ''In order to protect our heritage, we need a dedicated legislation,'' he told reporters here.

He said INTACH has formed a 'Intangible Cultural Heritage' division to work for the preservation of such areas as food, drinks, jewellery, iconography, witchcraft among others.

Mr Samar Singh, senior INTACH senior Advisor and Principal Director, Natural Heritage, who was also present, pointed out that rivers also were part of the country's heritage, but there were no environmental laws in the country that covered their conservation.

''That was why rivers were in such a bad shape,'' he underlined.

Though there were Action Plans in place for the rivers like Ganga and Yamuna, there was no policy framework for them in general, he pointed out.

He said there ought to be deliberations whether the existing environmental laws be extended to cover river conservation efforts or a new law should be framed. ''The Environment Ministry is looking into the issue,'' he said.

UNI MMG ATI UCS1959