Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh today said involvement of the local communities is essential to conserve and restore country's historical monuments. Speaking at the ceremony to mark the completion of restoration work at Humayan's Tomb, Dr Singh said, the responsibility to conserve and restore nation's heritage cannot simply be the sole preserves of government agencies. He said, efforts to preserve the heritage can be productively dovetailed with local area development through infrastructure improvement, community participation and employment generation along with environmental conservation and landscaping. The Prime Minister added that the government has found a good model in the public-private partnership, PPP, that has restored Humayun’s tomb to its earlier glory. He said, this restoration is the example of efficacy of integrating conservation efforts with public policies and schemes for urban renewal.

Culture Minister Chandresh Kumari Katoch said new era of PPP in field of culture has started with restoration work in Humayun’s tomb.
AIR correspondent reports, the Tomb was renovated by the Archeological Survey of India in collaboration with Aga Khan Trust for Culture and Sir Dorabji Tata Trust. The Humayun Tomb Project has provided 2 lakh man-days of employment to master craftsman. It is one of the first monuments that synthesised Indian and foreign elements to develop a new architectural style and has been hailed as the predecessor to the Taj Mahal.