Victorian Gothic and Art Deco on Unesco Heritage list

Mumbai, June 30: The famed ‘art district of south Mumbai’ comprising Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles has been named as the latest - and India’s 37th - entrant to the coveted World Heritage Sites list, a Unesco announcement said on Saturday. The decision came on Saturday morning at the ongoing 42nd session of Unesco World Heritage Committee, from June 24-July 4, currently underway in Manama, Bahrain. With this, India now has 37 World Heritage Inscriptions, ranking 6th in the world, and second only to China in the Asia-Pacific Region. In a congratulatory message, Union Minister of State (In-charge) Mahesh Sharma said that this international recognition to the historical precinct of Mumbai is “a matter of great pride for the nation and will boost the local economy in a number of ways.” Maharashtra government had first submitted its formal nomination proposal for the UNESCO honour in 2012 for the ‘Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensemble of Mumbai’, but it was edged out by other major Indian landmarks. (IANS)