UNESCO had released $150,000 grant, of which $75,000 would be spent on projects to preserve Mohenjo Daro and the Makli necropolis from future rains & other natural disasters.
According to Sindh Minister for Tourism and Culture, UNESCO had released a $150,000 grant, of which $75,000 would be spent on projects to preserve Mohenjo Daro and the Makli necropolis from future rains and other natural disasters.
Thierry Joffroy and Ms. Kristina from UNESCO inspected rain-damaged areas of the 5,000-year-old Mohenjo Daro and conducted experiments on mud-brick walls and drainage systems to help improve the functioning of existing drains so that rainwater would drain out smoothly in the future without causing any damage to structures during the monsoon season.
The experts, who were accompanied by teachers and students from Sukkur’s Aror University of Art, Architecture, Design, and Heritage, Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, and Sindh University, Jamshoro, observed ongoing restoration and preservation work in the ancient town’s H, VS, and K areas.
They met with the curator’s office staff, including director Syed Shakir Ali Shah, engineer Ali Hyder, archaeologist Altaf Aseem, architect Naveed Ahmed Sangah, and curator Roheel, who briefed them on their work at Moehnjo Daro. Concerning the nature of the expert’s experiments
Sindh Minister for Tourism and Culture, stated that experts were working to find a permanent solution to rainwater drainage at Mohenjo Daro by providing a smooth passage for water and assisting it to drain out smoothly without causing any damage to ancient remains during rains. He stated that space would be created between mud-brick walls for this purpose.
He stated that the experts had been working on the site since January 15 and would continue until January 23. He further stated that after the visit, Mr. Joffroy would submit a report and recommendations to UNESCO, and that the UN agency would then formulate guidelines and send them to the Sindh government.
The minister stated that the department of culture, tourism, and archaeology would follow the recommendations of UNESCO experts and scholars from Aror, MUET, and Sindh University, who had shared their research and recommendations on heritage and ancient architecture with the government.
Prof. Dr. Samreen Hussein, vice chancellor of Aror University, stated that town planning was at its best in Mohenjo Daro.
During heavy rains, she said, not a single drop of water remained in any nook or cranny of the town, thanks to the best drainage system, which was still functioning properly to this day.
She stated that Aror University experts in archaeology, heritage, and town planning shared their findings with UNESCO experts on how to protect and preserve Mohenjo Daro from disasters.
She stated that they would continue to share their ideas with the foreign experts. Manzoor Ahmed Kanasro, Director General of Culture, Archeology, and Tourism Sindh, stated that another UNESCO consultant, Rend Ebic, would visit the Malki Necropolis in three days to finalise a report on the rain-caused structural damage and make recommendations on how to protect the historical site from damage during natural disasters.