Tehran City Council has finalized a project for the restoration of historical and religious monuments in the capital, Iranian Cultural Heritage News Agency reported.

Member of Tehran City Council Rasoul Khadem said that Tehran Municipality was required to implement Note 166 of the Third Five-Year Development Plan (March 2000-2005) which calls for undertaking expert studies on ways to safeguard cultural heritage sites.

He said that the project requires the municipality to plan, in coordination with Iran's Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization (ICHTO), for protection and maintenance of historical monuments in the city. "The project will be forwarded to Tehran Municipality within the next one month.

"The cultural commission of Tehran City Council believes that Tehran Municipality is responsible for looking after historical buildings just as the ICHTO is responsible for the maintenance of historical monuments," said Khadem, who heads the cultural commission of the City Council.

"While, Tehran Municipality is responsible for maintenance of the historical sites, it should also coordinate with the ICHTO on the use of historical buildings currently under its possession," he said.