Suranga Bawadi on World Monument Watch list

News:Suranga Bawadi has been included in the World Monument Watch list for 2020 along with 24 other monuments from across the world.

Facts:

About Suranga Bawadi:

• Suranga Bawadi is an integral part of the ancient Karez system of supplying water through subterranean tunnels built during the Adil Shahi era in Vijayapura,Karnataka.
• The magnificent underground system was built to supply water to the city which had a population of nearly 12 lakh then.

Significance of inclusion:

• Suranga Bawadi has been selected under the ‘Ancient Water System of the Deccan Plateau’ by World Monuments Fund.
• The inclusion will help Suranga Bawadi to get funds for restoration within the next two years.
• The World Monuments Fund would also coordinate with the authorities concerned for restoration and create public awareness on its importance.

About World Monuments Fund:

• World Monuments Fund(WMF) is a private, international, non-profit organization founded in 1965.It is is headquartered in New York,USA.
• It is dedicated to the preservation of historic architecture and cultural heritage sites around the world through fieldwork, advocacy, grantmaking, education, and training.

About World Monuments Watch:

• The World Monuments Watch is a global program launched in 1995 by World Monuments Fund.
• It aims to identify imperiled cultural heritage sites and provide direct financial and technical support for their preservation.
• It is a biennial selection program of at risk cultural heritage sites that combine great historical significance with contemporary social impact.
• It is a nomination-based program that uses cultural heritage conservation to empower communities and improve human well-being.

Additional information:

About Karez System:

• Karez is a water harnessing technology in which groundwater is brought to the surface by a tunnel.
• In this system,no mechanical pump or lift is used.Gravity alone brings the water from the underground source.
• The Karez is found in 38 countries worldwide and most of these are concentrated in the Middle East region.Persia is known for the earliest known and documented Karez system.