Yazd Historical Texture Under Protection

Demolition of a half-ruined building in the historical texture of Yazd has been suspended by the Protection Unit of Iran's Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization in an effort to ensure safety for the World Heritage Site.

According to Fatemeh Danesh-Yazdi, head of the provincial office of ICHHTO, the building was partly ruined and was not of heritage value.

Therefore, a permit for its demolition and construction of a three-story building was issued in 2015 when Yazd's historical district was yet to be inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List.

"But conditions have changed since Yazd gained global status, hence the approved plans need to undergo revisions to ensure compliance with the new rules, CHTN quoted her as saying.

Also, based on the latest rules, heavy vehicles are not allowed in the vicinity of the vulnerable historical zones, so the destruction was suspended by the protection unit.

"The work will continue under ICHHTO supervision and with traditional construction methods, in an effort to minimize any harm to the ancient region."

Besides, the plans must abide by the regulations of the comprehensive urban plan that has been recently communicated by the municipality.

The plan defines standards in urban constructions in cultural heritage zones and historically valuable cities. It includes the maximum height of buildings, the extent of construction and buffer zones of historical sites among others.

"Cultural heritage authorities and municipality officials will review the construction plans, and the results will be announced to the owner," she said.

Ironically, the bulldozers arrived in the historical zone only a few days after Mehdi Jamali, the mayor of Yazd, announced that the municipality's approach has now shifted toward protection of historical places.

The historical city of Yazd in central Iran became the country's 22nd world heritage site after the World Heritage Committee voted in favor of its inscription on July 9, 2017, during the committee's 41st session in Krakow, Poland.