New Delhi :Mr.Vedakumar Manikonda got elected as a Member of Governing Council of INTACH. His endeavour, efforts and contribution towards heritage over the years made the electorate to cast their valuable votes to his favour.
A civil engineer by profession, a passionate heritage activist at heart, Mr.M.Vedakumar associated with INTACH since 2007, had the honour of being Co-convenor of INTACH, AP, State Chapter for three years till Sep 2014. During his tenure he visited several districts of AP., and strived for protecting precincts, rock formations, monuments and vernacular architectures. He was the Convenor for INTACH Silver Jubilee Celebrations in 2009. In order to bring awareness among people and school children , he organized heritage walks, heritage site visits, Quiz competitions, Discussions on Tangible and intangible heritage on TV channels and radio stations. He convened meetings for Districts Chapter Convenors and brought like minded people on one platform.
His contribution to several issues like Urban Planning, Development and Management, Heritage Conservation, Lakes & Water Bodies, Water Supply, Drainage, Parks, Forests and Open Space, Traffic & Transportation, Water & Air Pollution and Solid & Industrial Waste Management is note worthy.
His efforts in these areas eventually led to sustainable development of Hyderabad and solved ecological and environmental problems to some extent.
He strived for the protection of precincts and heritage buildings not only under INTACH but also of other Forums. Hither to more than 25 heritage buildings have been protected viz., Gandhi Medical College, G-Block (Saifabad Palace), Moula Ali Kaman, Laad Bazar, Mitti Ka Sher, Naya Qila, Qutub Shahi Tombs, Jamsingh Narayan Temple, Green Land Guest House, Dilkusha Guest House, Lady Hydari Club, Old Jail Secunderabad and Victoria Maternity Hospital etc.,
As a Heritage reformer and activist, he visited many nations like Rome, Paris, Berlin, Iran (Isfahan,Hamedan,Tehran), Turkey (Istanbul, Ankara) and Kenya. In this odyssey, he documented their Architecture and structures and comprehended a comparative study of Deccani A rchitecture Styles with those countries.
Above all he showed keen interest in protecting the trees in the State. His persuasion and commitment towards framing guidelines on tree cutting
enabled to protect 3000 trees and translocate 1300 trees which are more than 200-year-old. He headed a project on Musi River conservation and restoration Project with Humboldt University, Germany. He was invited to International Water Conference as a speaker at Berlin. Expressing his concern over Hyderabad water issues and the significance of Musi River, he invited the support and interest of like minded people on Musi River Project and protection of other lakes and ponds