Prof KK Basa Leads Indian Delegation at World Heritage Committee Meeting, Riyadh

Bhubaneswar, September 12: Renowned historian, anthropologist, Director General of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and Chairman National Monument Authority (NMA) Prof KK Basa is leading the Indian Delegation at the UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting in Riyadh.

The World Heritage Committee is comprised of representatives from 21 Nations, Parties to the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage elected by the General Assembly of States Parties to the Convention. The current composition of the Committee has Argentina, Belgium, Bulgaria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, Mali, Mexico, Nigeria, Oman, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Thailand, and Zambia.

The essential functions of the Committee are to identify, (1) On the basis of nominations submitted by member nations, cultural and natural properties of Outstanding Universal Value which are to be protected under the Convention, and to inscribe those properties on the World Heritage List.

(2) To monitor the state of conservation of properties inscribed on the World Heritage List, in liaison with States Parties; decide which properties included in the World Heritage List are to be inscribed on or removed from the List of World Heritage in Danger; decide whether a property may be deleted from the World Heritage List.

(3) To examine requests for International Assistance financed by the World Heritage Fund.

Interestingly, while the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee is chaired by Dr Abdulelah Al-Tokhais of Saudi Arabia, well-known conservation architect Shikha Jain from India is the Rapporteur for the entire session. The Vice-Chairpersons of the session are: Argentina, Italy, Russian Federation, South Africa, Thailand.

The extended 45th Session of the World Heritage Committee is being held in Riyadh from September 10 to 25 at Al-Faisaliah Hotel and its premises.