Having experienced the true Old cities of a few Indian cities (Hyderabad, Delhi, etc.) I can say that they are really being misused. They are filled with hundreds of thousands of priceless architectural works which are being chiseled away at by tenants who don't seem to care about the structure, covering them with signs and gharish A/Cs. This you will never find in a European city. Why does India not care about its history?

Very true.
Newer generation folks in the Indian "old" cities do not seem to pay much attention to the heritage assets and artifacts. Even when some of the family elders try to protect and maintain those invaluable treasures, the younger generations seem to reject the idea as a matter of sentiment. Its a sad state of affairs.

Perhaps its a matter of socio economic situation.

Perhaps the local Govts and NGO agencies must step in do some thing on this subject.

Very true.
Newer generation folks in the Indian "old" cities do not seem to pay much attention to the heritage assets and artifacts. Even when some of the family elders try to protect and maintain those invaluable treasures, the younger generations seem to reject the idea as a matter of sentiment. Its a sad state of affairs.

Perhaps its a matter of socio economic situation.

Perhaps the local Govts and NGO agencies must step in do some thing on this subject.

I definitely think so! In addition, it could be an excellent oppurtunity for high-wealth housing. If those living in decrepit colonial-era homes in Mumbai were provided for with a home they could afford that was sanitary and had their needs in hand, the building they once lived in could be restored to its former glory and then marketed as a high income area. But instead, they evict the tenants and build a monstrous art-deco/postmodern fusion apartment block, that turns squalid after the monsoons! :lol:

two words - rent control

and of course combined with our ridiculous tenancy laws. tenants pay a few rupees a month for spacious flats. why will a landlord try to preserve it? try to get the tenant out and you'll spend 30 years in court

"In many cases rent control appears to be the most efficient technique presently known to destroy a city—except for bombing." - Swedish economist (and socialist) Assar Lindbeck

^^ Correct. Especially in Bombay. Those buildings are in ruins, and unsafe now thanks to rent control

Some old pictures of Chandni Chowk from wikipedia - outlines of the glory days are still visible today, but most of its been wiped away by signs and wires
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e7/Chandni_Chowk%2C_Delhi%2C_1858.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ea/Chandni_Chowk%2C_Delhi%2C_1863-67.jpg

You are right Mahratta,
If we care our heritage cities then we will defiantly increase the Tourism and give the employment to the city persons.