13-Mar-2023: Identification of 75 Water Heritage Sites
There is no provision under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 to declare a site as a “Water Heritage Site” under Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). However, the Ministry of Jal Shakti had constituted a Committee to identify 75 Water Heritage Structure (WHS) in reference to 75 years of India's Independence.
A total of 421 nominations were received through States/UTs, Central Agencies, NGOs and general public and out of which Committee has recommended 75 water heritage structures, which includes 5 Water Heritage Structure from Gujarat and 4 Water Heritage Structure from Andhra Pradesh respectively. In this connection, "Jal-Itihas" sub-portal under India-WRIS portal, showcasing the 75 WHS, was launched (https://indiawris.gov.in/wris/) on 5th January, 2023 at the 1st All India State Ministers Conference on Water at Bhopal. At present there is no central fund allocated/disbursed for maintenance of these sites.
7-Feb-2023: Visva-Bharati University will be the world's first living heritage university
Visva-Bharati University is set to become world's first living heritage university. Expected to receive heritage tag from UNESCO in April or May 2023.
Visva-Bharati University
- Founded in 1921 by Rabindranath Tagore.
- Located in Santiniketan, West Bengal, India.
- Named after Tagore until Visva-Bharati Society was registered in 1922.
- Rabindranath introduced open-air education system.
- Inaugurated in 1922 as a Centre for Culture.
- Institutes offer diverse educational programs in arts, language, humanities, music.
- Based on founding principles of excellence in culture and culture studies.
- College until Independence, then granted Central University status in 1951.
- Structures within the institutes are diverse in architectural expressions which include, Kalo Bari, Mastermoshai studio, and murals on Cheena and Hindi Bhavan.
1-Feb-2023: Ukraine’s Odesa added to the UNESCO's World Heritage List
World Heritage Committee decided to add the historic centre of Ukraine’s Black Sea port city of Odesa to its list of World Heritage sites.
The decision recognizes the extraordinary universal value of the site and the duty of all humanity to protect it. The Historic Centre of Odesa has also been inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
List of World Heritage in Danger
- Designed to inform international community
- Identifies threats to a property's characteristics
- Encourages corrective action
As of 2023, the 52 properties are decided by the Committee to include on the List of World Heritage in danger.