Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was presented with UNESCO ‘Award of Merit’ for Conservation of Mahidpur Fort of Ujjain district, here on Wednesday.
Chouhan extended greetings to the Culture and Archeology Department for this praiseworthy initiative and award. Minister of State for Culture Surendra Patwa, Principal Secretary Culture Manoj Shrivastava, Principal Secretary to CM SK Mishra, Commissioner Archeology Anupam Rajan, Representative of UNESCO Moa Chiba, Representative of World Monument Fund New York Gurmeet S Rai and Conservation Architect Aishwarya Tipnis were present on the occasion.
Informing about the Narmada Seva Yatra being started to conserve Narmada river to the delegation of UNESCO, Chouhan informed that several historical ghats and prehistoric caves are located on the banks of the river Narmada. Initiative is needed to conserve them.
He further said that a list will be prepared and action plan will be made to conserve them. Conservation work of Ghats will especially be undertaken on priority. It may be mentioned that the prestigious ‘Award of Merit’ has been given for the conservation work of Mahidpur Fort of Ujjain district.
The conservation work of Mahidpur was selected from the 40 entries received for Heritage Award by the International Conservation Experts Committee at Bangkok. It may be mentioned that conservation and development work of 492 State protected monuments have been undertaken cautiously in the state keeping in view the architecture and other specialties.
Conservation work of Mahidpur fort which was built in 18th century on the shore of the river Kshipra has been carried out in cooperation of Directorate of Archeological, Archives and Museum and World Monument Fund.
It was the part of Holkar State Indore. War between Britishers and Holkar state took place in the year 1817 here.