Question : COMMEMORATION OF HERITAGE SITES

(a) whether the Government has launched the world heritage series commemorative medal programme recently;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether steps have been taken by the Government for the conservation of heritage sites in the country including Bihar as per the guidelines issued by the UNESCO;

(d) if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise including Bihar; and

(e) the steps taken by the Government for the inclusion of Indian Cultural heritage sites in the wonders of the world to compete with global cultural heritage sites?

MINISTER OF CULTURE (SHRIMATI CHANDRESH KUMARI KATOCH)

(a)&(b) Yes, Madam.The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and its World Heritage Centre together with MMTC’s (Metals and Minerals Trading Corporation of India) joint venture partner MMTC-PAMP India Pvt. Ltd. developed the ‘UNESCO World Heritage Commemorative Medal Program’.

During the visit of the Director-General, UNESCO to India the first four medals of the Indian World Heritage Sites of Taj Mahal (Agra- UP) , the Buddhist monuments at Sanchi (MP), the Great Living Chola Temples (Thanjavur - Tamil Nadu), and Humayun’s Tomb (Delhi), were launched on 11th November 2009 at the Qutb Minar, New Delhi.

(c)&(d)Yes. Madam ASI is taking utmost care for conservation of the Centrally Protected World Heritage Sites as per their requirements and available funds. The details of State/UT-wise expenditure (including Bihar) during the last three years and the current year are at annexure.

(e) While there is no policy in Archaeological Survey of India for inclusion of Indian Cultural heritage sites in the wonders of the world to compete with global cultural heritage sites, ASI actively pursues the matter of inscription of cultural sites on the World Heritage List. However, the Taj Mahal (Agra) has been included in the new 7 Wonders of the World by the New 7 Wonders Foundation.