What better way to manage heritage sites than to rope in corporate entities to adopt them. It helps serve the twin objectives — protecting and sprucing up the monument and aiding the corporate in its social responsibility objectives.

Following the initiative taken by the Geneva-based Aga Khan Trust in the restoration of the Quli Qutub Shahi Tombs near the Golkonda fort, more corporate houses will be roped in by the Andhra Pradesh Government and the Tourism Department.

The Trust has committed to invest about Rs 100 crore over the next 10 years by setting up a museum and its upkeep.

The State Government is working on a draft scheme that encourages adoption of monuments by corporates. This is expected to outline how corporate entities could take care of these monuments and also address their CSR objective, Chandana Khan, Special Chief Secretary (Tourism), Government of Andhra Pradesh, told Business Line .

While the 13th Finance Commission had allocated Rs 100 crore for preservation and restoration of heritage sites and, monuments and museums, it was raised to Rs 150 crore by the next commission. There are scores of heritage sites needing specialised attention and restoration expertise to bring them to pristine glory in Hyderabad. These include Paigah Tombs, Hayat Bakshi Begum Mosque, Bade-Shahi Ashoor Khana near the historic Charminar, and the Khajana building in Golconda fort.

About 15 heritage structures have been identified for restoration. The heritage site adoption scheme will be similar to the one where corporate entities adopt animals in zoos.

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