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Home , Agra Fort, Sher Shah Suri

I Application of the World Heritage Convention by the States Parties

(g) Chittorgarh Fort & Monuments, (h) ’s Tomb, Sikandra (i) Itimud-ud Daula Tomb, (j) Excavated remains Kalibangen, Rajasthan

• 1983 4 nominations (inscribed) I.1 Introduction (a) (b) Year of ratification 1977 (c) (d) Organization submitting the report • 1984 2 nominations (inscribed) • Natural Heritage Section I: (a) Sun Temple, Konarak Ministry of Environment & Forests, (b) Group of Monuments, Mahabalipuram New • 1984 3 nominations (deferred) India (a) Ranthambhore National Park • Cultural Heritage Section I: (b) Kahna National Park Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), (c) Rann of Kutch Sanctuary • 1985 3 nominations (inscribed) India (a)

(b) I.2 Identification of cultural and natural (c) heritage properties • 1986 4 nominations (inscribed) (a) Churches & Convents of Goa The status of national inventories (b) Khajuraho Group of Monuments • NH: In 1988, the Wildlife Inst. of India initiated a (c) Group of Monuments “comprehensive document on the wildlife protected (d) area network in India”. The periodic review covers • 1987 4 nominations (inscribed) biogeographic classification (across all biomes); (a) Group of Monuments important ecological, floral, geomorphological & (b) zoological areas; and proposes recommendations (c) Brihadisvara Temple rd for new protected areas. The 3 updated edition was (d) National Park published in 2002. • 1988 1nomination (inscribed) • NH: All state governments have detailed inventories (a) of significant protected/forest areas. Concerned • 1989 1nomination (inscribed) forest & wildlife divisions maintain detailed accounts (a) Buddhist Monuments, of each site. • 1990 1 nomination (deferred) • CH: Inventories of monuments & sites of national (a) Silent Valley National Park importance (currently 3,611) and state-level • 1991 1 nomination (not inscribed) significance are maintained by the ASI (since 1904) (a) Gir National Park and the respective state Archaeology Departments. • 1992 1 nomination (not inscribed) • CH: NGOs and municipalities have undertaken the (a) Wild Ass Sanctuary listing of buildings & sites at the local level. 1993 2 nominations (inscribed) • (a) ’s Tomb, Delhi The preparation of a Tentative List (b) Brihadisvara Temple • 15 sites, revised in January 2001 after discussion (c) (deferred) between the ASI and the Dept of Culture. • 1998 11 nominations (all deferred) • CH: In view of the WH Committee decision to include (a) Buddhist Monastery Complex at Alchi under-represented categories of sites, “the tentative (b) Temples at Bishnupur, West list is being revised with state government authorities (c) Golkonda Fort, Andhra Pradesh and different ministries… local bodies and NGOs are (d) Mattanchery Palace, Kerala being involved on a regional basis.” (e) Dholavira, a Harappan City,

(f) Ancient Buddhist site, Sarnath, Nominations and the nomination process (g) Group of Monuments Mandu, • 1982 10 nominations (submitted in incomplete form) (h) Tomb of Sher Suri, Bihar (a) Red Fort, Delhi (i) Rani-ki-vav, Gujarat (b) Excavated remains at Lothal, Gujarat • 2000 1 nomination (inscribed) (c) Martand Temple, Jammu & Kashmir (a) Complex, Bihar (d) Gol Gumpaz, Karnataka 2002 3 nominations (deferred from 1998) (e) Monuments at Aihole, Karnataka • (a) Champaner-Pavagadh (f) The Caves of Karla, Maharastra (b) Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka

6 Application of the World Heritage Convention by the States Parties I

(c) Victoria Terminus • CH: A danger from tourism is recognised of • NH: Local authorities prepare natural nominations in “uncontrolled insensitive and illegal commercial consultation with relevant stakeholders. The activity [which] continues unabated.” motivation for nomination is to enhance global image, encourage research, and promote Financial measures and budget allowance ecotourism. • NH: “Funds are provided annually from state plan and non-plan schemes and centrally sponsored I.3 Protection, conservation and schemes”. 15 areas are listed. No figures supplied. presentation of the cultural and natural • CH: Funds for World Heritage are part of the regular heritage budget. No figures supplied. • CH: “Access to old revenue data is another problem Integration of heritage and planning as [it is] scattered and under the control of numerous • NH: Site managers prepare park management plans State and Government agencies.” for a period of 5-10 years in consultation with NGOs, • CH: A ‘National Culture Fund’ (NCF) was people’s representatives & research institutions. established in 1996 to encourage private-public These are later submitted as ‘state plans’ to the partnership in the restoration of heritage. Donors MOEF. include the Indian Oil Corporation; Aga Khan • NH: Some of the important schemes supported by Foundation; Oberoi Group of Hotels; Tata & Apeejay the central government include: (i) ecodevelopment Groups. in & around protected areas; (ii) Project Tiger; (iii) Project Elephant; (iv) Wetland Conservation Professional Programme; (v) conservation & management of • NH: The Indian Forest Service has some 2500 coral reefs; and (vi) biosphere reserves. officers throughout the country (100 at the national • NH: Important legislation includes the Indian Forest level). Act (1927); Wildlife Protection Act (1972); Forest • NH: Training is carried out according to the National Conservation Act (1980); Environment Protection Act Forestry Action Programme (1999) & Wildlife Action (1986); and Biodiversity Conservation Act (2002). Plan (1952, 2002). • NH: The MOEF is also the nodal agency for 9 • NH: 12 specialised training institutes are listed multilateral environmental conventions (CBD, including the: (i) Wildlife Inst. of India; (ii) Indian CITES, Ramsar, UNCLOS, Kyoto Protocol etc.). Council of Forestry, Research & Education; (iii) • CH: A detailed cultural policy is being drafted by the Indira Gandhi Forestry Academy; (iv) Indian Inst. of Dept. of Culture, which includes tangible and Remote Sensing; (v) G.B. Pant Inst. of Himalayan intangible heritage of the country. Environment & Development. • CH: ASI has formulated a 5-year ‘Perspective Plan’ • CH: Specialized studies have covered stereo- (2002-2007) handled at both national & local levels. photographic studies, micro-earthquake and environmental impact assessments. A list of • CH: The ‘Central Advisory Board of Archaeology’ advanced training centres is attached. (CABA) comprises of representatives from different universities, state governments, and the ASI. • CH: Advanced technology for stone conservation, GIS, remote sensing, and the preservation of Participation of local communities paintings can be transferred from other UNESCO state parties through international & regional co- • NH: Since 1990, 63,000 Joint Forest Management operation. Committees have been established covering 14.25

million ha of forests. New and improved services • NH: 1400 NGOs work in the field of environment & • NH: The Indian Board of Wildlife has adopted the conservation. 14 major partners are listed. ‘National Wildlife Action Plan’ (2002-2016). • CH: Local civil bodies are “always consulted” in the • NH: Numerous scientific and technical research preparation of nominations, and enlisted for their projects include: (i) Mangrove Atlas of India; (ii) coral artisanal skills as sculptors, masons & stone cutters. reef monitoring; (iii) in vitro propagation of medicinal

plants; (iv) phyto-diversity inventorization by the Tourism Development Botanical Survey of India; (v) national vegetation • NH: The ‘National Tourism Policy 2002’ recognises mapping & thematic maps; and (vi) ‘People’s the “deep-rooted relationship with natural and Biodiversity Register’ of traditional knowledge. cultural heritage” and seeks to improve sanitation, • CH: The ‘Science Branch’ of the ASI has extended circuit roads, rail & waterways; and develop village, technical expertise to different (private) organisations adventure & wildlife tourism. to take up the chemical cleaning of cultural • CH: The national tourism strategy focuses on properties. economic & social development. Visitor flow is • CH: Master Plans and buffer zones are being nonetheless regulated with admission tickets. elaborated by the respective state governments.

7 I Application of the World Heritage Convention by the States Parties

Issues to be addressed I.5 Education, information and awareness- • NH: Areas for improvement include: (i) reducing building man-wildlife conflicts; (ii) assessment of threat status of endangered species; (iii) restoration of degraded Information and awareness measures habitats; (iv) poaching control; (v) community • NH: ‘Eco-clubs’ have been set up all over the participation; (vi) conflict resolution; (vii) intelligence country as “a non-formal proactive system to involve gathering; (viii) education; and (ix) ecotourism. school children in conservation education”. ‘World • CH: “Efforts are being made to augment and Heritage Week’ is observed each November. upgrade the existing basic amenities to the public.” • NH: The MOEF has set up an environmental • CH: Areas for improvement include: (i) environment information system with 25 ‘ENVIS’ centres. impact studies; (ii) training programmes for site • CH: The motivation to enter WH nominations managers; (iii) digital documentation; and (iv) youth “emanates from the latent desire to bring out the education with electronic & print media. universal value and hidden symbolic meaning of a

given property to humanity at large.” I.4 International co-operation and fund • CH: A new series of Guide Books has been raising published along with postage stamps & short films.

National and International Fund Raising I.6 Conclusions and recommended actions • CH: On a request from the government of Cambodia, the Indian government participated in the Conclusions and proposed actions conservation of the WH site of Angkor Wat. • NH: India has increased the number of protected • CH: India was also involved in the UNESCO areas from only 65 in the 1970s to 587 national campaign to salvage the Nubia monuments, and in parks and sanctuaries for wild flora & fauna in 2002. the earlier restoration of the Bamiyan Buddhas in the The periodic review of protected area coverage 1970s. seeks to further ensure the coverage of a range of • NH: Regional & global cooperation is sought for WH representative biomes. sites ‘in danger’ to ensure that these properties are • NH: Integrated landscape-level conservation will in taken out of danger in a fixed time frame. the future address “regional planning connecting vital • * International Assistance from the WHF as follows: ecological corridors and preventing fragmentation of 1983 $3,200 Training, Stonework conservation natural ecosystems.” $13,331 Training, Ellora • NH: “Enormous benefits are foregone especially by 1986 $20,788 Technical, Konarak/Taj Mahal the local people due to the establishment of 1987 $7,000 Training, Conservation principles protected areas in a developing country. Such $1,419 Training, Purchase of materials opportunity costs of heritage sites must be met to 1988 $2,000 Training, Conference on wetlands maintain its effectiveness… [WH properties] should 1989 $15,000 Training, Ecology workshop get priority in international funding.” $5,000 Training, Marine park management • CH: It is proposed to develop “a documentation 1991 $20,000 Training, Sub-regional centre exclusively dealing with the issues relating to 1994 $10,000 Technical, Elephanta WH sites. The Centre could act as a catalyst in 1995 $17,865 Emergency Taj Mahal integrating conservation, tourism, funding, evaluation 1996 $30,000 Training Keoladeo of sites, and take requisite action to formulate site 1997 $90,000 Emergency Manas management… and develop [an] information $30,000 Training, Regional training centres database.” $50,000 Technical, Kaziranga • CH: As part of an “urban organism”, concerned 1998 $90,000 Emergency, Manas municipal agencies should be made “accountable for $10,000 Training, Elephanta acts of omission and commissions” arising in and $20,000 Technical, Enhancing management around WH properties (including buffer zones). $5,000 Promotional, Elephanta

2001 $20,000 Preparatory, Natural $28,000 Training, $16,362 Preparatory, Tentative List 2002 $20,000 Training, Monitoring seminar $17,370 Training, Hampi • * Extra-budgetary funds mobilised by the UNESCO Division of Cultural Heritage include: 1994-2003 $500,000 Conservation, preservation of the Buddhist monuments at Sanchi & Satdhara (Japan) 1998-2003 $158,200 Research, conservation training for Taj Mahal (Fondation Rhône-Poulenc)

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