Ire over toy train monetization plan

GS Paper 3:

Topic covered: Issues related to economic growth and planning

Context: Concerns expressed over Centre’s proposal to monetize the Darjeeling Himalayan Railways (DHR).

More on this news:

• There are four fully functional and operational railways networks in mountains and hilly terrains in India — the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) located in the foothills of the Himalayas in West Bengal; the Nilgiris Mountain Railways located in the Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu; the Kalka Shimla Railway located in the Himalayan foothills of Himachal Pradesh; and the Matheran Railway located in Maharashtra.

Figure: Darjeeling Hill railway

• DHR was built in the British era between 1879 and 1881; the Darjeeling toy train was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.
• The main reason for the protest is that private companies’ focus would be on profit, and local aspirations of the people would be ignored.
• Concerns have also been raised on how the government has taken this decision in an unilateral manner without consulting the stakeholders involved
• Way forward: Government should consult the stakeholders involved and create guidelines to meet their aspirations in a mutually beneficial manner.

What is a World Heritage Site?

• A World Heritage site is classified as a natural or man-made areaor a structure that is of international importance, and a space which requires special protection.
• These sites are officially recognised by the UN and the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation, also known as UNESCO.
• UNESCO believes that the sites classified as World Heritage are important for humanity, and they hold cultural and physical significance.

Key facts:

1. The list is maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 UNESCO member states which are elected by the General Assembly.
2. Each World Heritage Site remains part of the legal territory of the state wherein the site is located and UNESCO considers it in the interest of the international community to preserve each site.
3. To be selected, a World Heritage Site must be an already classified landmark, unique in some respect as a geographically and historically identifiable place having special cultural or physical significance.

Prelims link

1. Darjeeling Hill railways
2. What is World Heritage Site?
3. UNESCO’s WHS in India
4. About UNESCO

Mains links

Discuss the policies required to safeguard India’s conservation efforts