The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) India has plans to step up its efforts to promote conservation of heritage in the country.
The body plans to set up a Documentation Centre and Conservation Studio for heritage management at the Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU), Hyderabad.
At the recent annual general body meeting held at Manuu recently, it decided to set up a working group under the chairmanship of Arun Menon, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Madras.
The meeting also decided to formulate a strategy document for the HK Sherwani Centre for Deccan Studies, a research institution of the Manuu as a precursor to establishing the Centre and Studio.
The Centre could be become a nodal point for the South zone in initiating, conducting, preserving and promoting works of documentation and research in the fields of history, architecture, archaeology, tourism and conservation.
This would also include establishment of archives, library, museum and a laboratory for scientific investigation. It was proposed to organize a three-day workshop on Enhancing Scientific Perspectives within Heritage Conservation Education in June next.
About 27 professionals from a variety of fields such as history, architecture, conservation, technology, engineering etc attended the meeting.
Icomos India prepares approach documents for preservation, conservation and restoration of heritage sites. Rohit Jigyasu, its President said that India has won the bid for hosting the General Assembly of Icomos International during 2017 with the theme Heritage and Democracy.