 |
|
Tang Bat Ho temple – one of historic sites in Binh Dinh. Photo V.L |
Of 231 relics listed in Binh Dinh, there are 88 recognized ones, but some of them are now suffering severe damage. Only when functional bodies, local authorities, and all people work together could the relics be fully saved.
Effort to preserve relics
Binh Dinh People’s Committee and the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism have focused on renovating many historic sites in the past few years, let alone some proposed for being upgraded in the coming time.
The province’s Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism also promoted many measures to preserve relics, such as implementing documents to raise the people’s awareness of relic preservation and holding training courses for officials at grass roots level.
The province’s Historic Sites Management Board was set up, aiming to preserve and uphold the value of recognized relics, including 33 relics of national magnitude and 55 of provincial magnitude.
It has proved its effectiveness since it operated in April. The province’s Historic Sites Management Board coordinated with the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism to carry out many activities.
Under the Government’s Decree No 92 detailing the implementation of a number of articles of the cultural heritage law, the district-level People’s Committees have to protect and promote values of tangible and intangible cultural heritages within their respective localities.
Preservation requires sharing
“Many local authorities lack responsibility for protecting and upgrading recognized historic sites,” said Director of the province’s Historic Sites Management Board Dang Huu Tho. “They only depend on the provincial functional bodies.”
The lack of responsibility, therefore, made historic sites suffer damage. Nui Ba historic site, for example, has suffered damage caused by the illegal rock exploitation for many years.
The Nam Giao altar site was also violated two years ago and the consequences could be clearly seen after the violation was stopped.
The locals directly caused damage to recognized sites, such as breaking steles or making them dirty. Even when they were renovated, they were still ruined again. The stele of Phu Loc tower is a typical example.
Alongside the effort of provincial bodies, it’s necessary to strengthen measures to preserve historic sites, including activities to raise the locals’ awareness of relic protection.
The Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism and the province’s Youth Union carried out the “friendly schools and active students” program, aiming to encourage students to join the relic protection, said Tho.
“The province’s Historic Sites Management Board is going to cooperate with relevant bodies and localities to provide services for tourists visiting these sites,” he added.
| 
