Gujarat, Mar 23,: The ancient Harappan city of Dholavira, which is located in Gujarat's Kutch District, is crying out for proper infrastructural repair.Dholavira, locally known as Kotada, was discovered in 1967-68 by archaeologist J. Joshi, in the Khadir island of Kutch. It listed by UNESCO as world heritage site.  

The ancient city of Dholavira is remarkable for its magnificent planning and enormity of area and deposit. It is one of the two largest Harappan settlements in India and the fourth or fifth largest in the subcontinent.

The most notable feature of this site is its water management acumen. There is extensive water harvesting throughout the site. It also enjoys the unique distinction of yielding an inscription of ten large-sized signs of the Harappan script, indeed the oldest signboard of the world.

Despite its historical and socio-cultural significance, the site is a classic case of Government apathy and indifference. The year 2006 was celebrated as Tourism Year by the Gujarat Government, but not much has been done to develop it.

Archaeologists believe it was an important centre of trade between South Gujarat, Sindh, Punjab and Western Asia. The Harappan site today attracts many tourists from both within the country and outside. It has one or two restaurants, but no proper transportation facility to reach the site. Local people believe that the Archaeological Survey of India has much to do to realise the heritage potential of the site. Shambhu Bhai, the man responsible for bringing Dholavira to the notice of the ASI demanded that "proper care should be taken for the maintenance of the site, and the place around the excavated site should be kept clean" since tourists visit this place. The place presently attracts not more than 70 tourists a day and an average of two foreign tourists. There is a museum here, but it is opened only when any dignitary arrives. It should be opened for public, demanded, Janak Bhai, a visitor. Moreover, there are no guides who can inform the tourists about its historical significance.