Impact of Climate Change on Cultural Heritage Sites

Under the comprehensive measures, India’s cultural heritage sites are monitored regularly and in order to reduce the impact of climatic change, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has been adopting climate-resilient solutions in the way of periodical scientific treatment, consolidation and preservation of cultural heritage sites.

Earlier, ASI and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in joint collaboration have installed Automated Weather Stations (AWS) in many historical monuments, in order to monitor the wind speed & direction, rainfall, atmospheric pressure, temperature, etc. to ascertain any signs of damage or degradation caused by climate change. Besides, Air Pollution Laboratories are also established to monitor Ambient Pollutants such as suspended particulate matters at Taj Mahal, Agra and Bibi ka Maqbara, Aurangabad.

Periodically, meetings are conducted with other Government agencies to develop and implement coordinated strategies for preserving cultural heritage sites in the face of climate change. Officers of ASI also participated in an International Consultative Workshop on ‘Disaster Management of Cultural Heritage Sites’ recently organized by the National Disaster Management Authority in collaboration with UNESCO. National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in collaboration with ASI has framed ‘National Disaster Management Guidelines for Cultural Heritage Sites and Precincts’ for risk assessment, risk reduction measures, preparedness, emergency response measure and planning for post disaster recovery.

This information was given by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.