INDIA’S CLIMATE POLICIES
The Indian government has said that over the long term, its climate policies will help prevent further damage to these monuments.
Officials say half of India’s electricity now comes from renewable sources, and the world’s most populous nation aims to be carbon-neutral by 2070.
In the meantime, early warning systems have been installed at many sites.
Vimlendu Jha, founder and executive director of environmental non-governmental organisation Swechha, noted that most monuments now have a weather station that signals extreme rainfall or high winds.
“But warning alone is not enough, as a warning doesn’t do anything more than inform you,” he added. “There needs to be adequate resources and funding for conservation and protection of these places.”
This year, India’s main conservation body, the Archaeological Survey of India, received a 13 per cent budget increase, bringing its funding to US$138 million.
But some experts argue this is still not sufficient. They have instead called for comprehensive risk assessments, regular inspections, and more funding for protective chemical treatments to keep these national treasures intact.
Without sustained investment, they warn, India could lose irreplaceable pieces of its cultural identity – one crumbling stone at a time.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/india-ancient-monuments-climate-change-pollution-red-fort-taj-mahal-5482191
