Project-Based Heritage Management: Valid Judgement or Unfair Obsession?

The verdict that “Effective heritage management is mostly affected by development projects” is valid to a significant extent. Heritage management refers to the protection, preservation, and propagation of cultural and natural heritage monuments, sites, landscapes, and practices ceaselessly. Concurrently, development projects encompass economic activities aimed at improving the living conditions of a specific area or population, which may involve infrastructure development, urbanization, and industrialization. There tends to often be a conflict between the two, mainly when the development projects overlook or disregard the importance of preserving heritage. For instance, the city transformation of Beijing, China for the 2008 Olympics led to the demolition of several historical neighborhoods, thus eradicating a significant part of the city’s cultural heritage. The residents were relocated without taking into account their connection to these historical sites, leading to an outcry from heritage conservationists and many of the city's inhabitants. Similarly, in India, the construction of the Konkan Railway, though an essential development project, led to significant damage to several archaeological sites and natural heritage along its path. Despite the potential for sustainable tourism and local culture preservation, the development project took precedence, highlighting the constant struggle for balance between development and heritage conservation. Also noteworthy is the case of Old Dhaka city in Bangladesh where many heritage buildings were replaced with new infrastructure development projects. While the need for improvement in infrastructure such as new buildings, broad roads, and cleaner surroundings are undeniable, the loss of cultural heritage is also significant. From scholarly perspectives, Laurajane Smith, in her book 'Uses of Heritage', emphasizes that heritage is not just about preserving buildings or sites, but also includes the retention and communication of certain cultural values, ideas, and memories related to these places. Hence, heritage conservation must be incorporated into development plans. Furthermore, as Ashworth and Graham point out in 'Senses of Place, Senses of Time', any strategy for heritage planning must take into account the economic realities of the place, while still maintaining the core of heritage preservation. They advocate the idea of sustainable heritage management, where development and heritage preservation go hand-in-hand. In conclusion, development projects indeed have a significant impact on effective heritage management. Therefore, it becomes crucial to establish policies that ensure a balance between preserving historical and cultural heritage and promoting development. For this, engaging various stakeholders: from government bodies and developers to locals and heritage organizations will be vital. A negotiation space needs to be created where both these interests can be merged to ensure development does not come at the expense of heritage.