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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
By Steve Herman
New Delhi
19 February 2007
The final resting place in India for the 16th century Mughal Emperor Humayun
Humayun's tomb
has pitted urban planners and environmentalists against bureaucrats1. As VOA's Steve Herman reports from New Delhi, the bureaucrats' determination to improve roads for the 2010 Commonwealth2 Games could threaten this World Heritage Site.
It is a rare respite3 in the middle of this city of 13 million people. Here on the grounds of the Mughal Emperor Humayun's tomb, birds chirp4, tourists stare in awe5, and the constant noise of New Delhi's congested traffic is merely a faint rumble6.
But some preservationists fear the sanctuary7, whose centerpiece inspired the Taj Mahal, is now under threat in the name of relieving traffic congestion8.
New Delhi, as part of improvements to prepare for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, plans to widen roads and dig tunnels. Concerned residents say these will come perilously9 close to mausoleum complex.
Author and social commentator10 Patwant Singh
The renowned11 author and civic12 commentator Patwant Singh, who has lived in New Delhi for 82 years, is outraged13. He is worried that the construction and vibrations14 from automotive traffic will spell doom15 for the World Heritage Site, along with the Lodi tombs, where other of India's Muslim emperors rest under imposing16 domes17.
"Can that old structure, like Humayun's Tomb or these Lodi tombs, put up with those vibrations? They're built not with reinforced concrete. They're built with lime and stone. They've stood the test of time, but there are also certain limits," he said.
Humayun was the second of the Mughal emperors, who ruled various parts of India, Afghanistan and what is now Pakistan starting in 1526. The line continued in diminished form under British rule until 1857. Humayun's graceful18 domed19 mausoleum provided the inspiration for the Taj Mahal, built in nearby Agra by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in the mid-1600's.
Singh criticizes bureaucrats and businessmen who, he says, are willing to jeopardize20 the city's heritage so that athletes will spend a few minutes less stuck in traffic during the 15-day sporting event.
"Delhi is being systematically21 destroyed by ignoramuses who've no clue of what they're doing. I don't think we need the [Commonwealth] Games here," he added. "If they're totally bent22 in a most obstinate23 manner, then what we've got to do is go to court and do everything possible to control the damage."
Caught in the crossfire24 is the Archaeological Survey of India. The government
A.K. Sinha, Superintending Architect, Achaeological Survey of India
architects have given the Delhi government strict conditions for the road expansion project, which could cost upward of $200 million.
But superintending architect A.K. Sinha explains that his authority only extends to 300 meters from historic sites, putting most of the construction outside his agency's direct oversight25. He can only hope things are done right.
"Whatever decision is finally taken should be based upon scientific analysis and also the side effects of the tunnel," said Sinha.
Architects on both sides of the controversy26 worry that politics, not science, will determine how close the improved road comes to the historic sites. Indian media report that the prime minister's office has now asked to review the plans.
Patwant Singh says the fact that the Mughals were Muslims, a minority in modern-day India, might play a role in the decision. He wonders aloud whether greater care would
Italian Deputy Premier27 and Minister for Culture, Francesco Rutelli, right, visits Humayun's Tomb in New Delhi, 28 Jan 2007
be taken if the monuments were linked to the country's majority Hindus.
But architect Sinha bristles28 at the suggestions that religion might be a deciding factor.
"We have never, never, never for that matter, looked at the heritage properties from that angle, because a heritage is a heritage whether it is Hindu, Christian29, Muslim, Sikh or for that matter any other religion," he said.
Just how close the construction comes to Emperor Humayun's mausoleum could ultimately be determined30 by the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization. UNESCO, if duly concerned, could declare that the construction endangers the World Heritage Site.
Such an action, conservationists here say, would pressure the city government to detour31 the road project farther away from the historic monument.
1 bureaucrats | |
n.官僚( bureaucrat的名词复数 );官僚主义;官僚主义者;官僚语言 | |
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2 commonwealth | |
n.共和国,联邦,共同体 | |
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3 respite | |
n.休息,中止,暂缓 | |
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4 chirp | |
v.(尤指鸟)唧唧喳喳的叫 | |
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5 awe | |
n.敬畏,惊惧;vt.使敬畏,使惊惧 | |
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6 rumble | |
n.隆隆声;吵嚷;v.隆隆响;低沉地说 | |
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7 sanctuary | |
n.圣所,圣堂,寺庙;禁猎区,保护区 | |
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8 congestion | |
n.阻塞,消化不良 | |
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9 perilously | |
adv.充满危险地,危机四伏地 | |
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10 commentator | |
n.注释者,解说者;实况广播评论员 | |
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11 renowned | |
adj.著名的,有名望的,声誉鹊起的 | |
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12 civic | |
adj.城市的,都市的,市民的,公民的 | |
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13 outraged | |
a.震惊的,义愤填膺的 | |
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14 vibrations | |
n.摆动( vibration的名词复数 );震动;感受;(偏离平衡位置的)一次性往复振动 | |
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15 doom | |
n.厄运,劫数;v.注定,命定 | |
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16 imposing | |
adj.使人难忘的,壮丽的,堂皇的,雄伟的 | |
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17 domes | |
n.圆屋顶( dome的名词复数 );像圆屋顶一样的东西;圆顶体育场 | |
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18 graceful | |
adj.优美的,优雅的;得体的 | |
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19 domed | |
adj. 圆屋顶的, 半球形的, 拱曲的 动词dome的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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20 jeopardize | |
vt.危及,损害 | |
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21 systematically | |
adv.有系统地 | |
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22 bent | |
n.爱好,癖好;adj.弯的;决心的,一心的 | |
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23 obstinate | |
adj.顽固的,倔强的,不易屈服的,较难治愈的 | |
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24 crossfire | |
n.被卷进争端 | |
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25 oversight | |
n.勘漏,失察,疏忽 | |
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26 controversy | |
n.争论,辩论,争吵 | |
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27 premier | |
adj.首要的;n.总理,首相 | |
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28 bristles | |
短而硬的毛发,刷子毛( bristle的名词复数 ) | |
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29 Christian | |
adj.基督教徒的;n.基督教徒 | |
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30 determined | |
adj.坚定的;有决心的 | |
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31 detour | |
n.绕行的路,迂回路;v.迂回,绕道 | |
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