SR NewS UpdateS

The harappan-era CiTy Dholavira in GujaraT anD TelanGana’s ramappa Temple BaG The unesCo WorlD heriTaGe siTe TaG

During the 44th session of the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO recently held in China, over 17 of the 21 member nations supported the inscription of the 800-year-old Rudreswara/ Ramappa Templein Telangana as a World Heritage site. Besides Ramappa temple, the World Heritage Committee also inscribed the Harappan-era city of Dholavira, which is located in the present-day Kutch district of Gujarat on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.India now has 40 sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Ramappa Temple, also known as Rudreswara temple, is located at Palampet near Warangal in Telangana. The temple has been on UNESCO’s tentative list since 2014. The Indian government proposed Ramappa Temple as its only nomination for the UNESCO World Heritage site list for the year 2019. It was inscribed in UNESCO’s World Heritage List as “Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple, Telangana.

UNESCO quotes about the Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple, “The building features decorated beams and pillars of carved granite and dolerite with a distinctive and pyramidal Vimana (horizontally stepped tower) made of lightweight porous bricks, so-called ‘floating bricks’, which reduced the weight of the roof structures. The temple’s sculptures of high artistic quality illustrate regional dance customs and Kakatiyan culture.”

Dholavirahad also been on UNESCO’s tentative list since 2014, and India had shared its dossier in Jan 2020, as per the Culture Ministry statement.Along with becoming the fourth site from Gujarat and 40th from India to make a list, Dholavira has also

Ramappa Temple depicts the beautiful craftsmanship of the great Kakatiya dynasty Ramappa temple, Telangana, Hyderabad

Harappan-era city of Dholavira, Kutch, Gujarat

bagged the first site of the ancient Indus Valley Civilisation (IVC) in India to get the UNESCO tag. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was elated by this development and shared a series of tweets about this crucial ‘urban centre which is one of our most important linkages with our past.’

“The ancient city of Dholavira is one of the most remarkable and well-preserved urban settlements in South Asia dating from the 3rd to mid-2nd millennium BCE (Before Common Era). Discovered in 1968, the site is set apart by its unique characteristics, such as its water management system, multilayered defensive mechanisms, extensive use of stone in construction and special burial structures,” In its release, UNESCO termed in its press release “The two newly inscribed World Heritage Sites offer great insight into the knowledge and ways of life of earlier societies, customs, and communities.”

Why has Rudreswara/ Ramappa Templein Telangana and Harappan-era city of Dholavirabeen conferred the tag of UNESCO World Heritage site? What is special about them? Get to know at wwwsurfacesreporter.com

rahul DraviD To Be The faCe of piramal realTy

As a brand ambassador for its increasing portfolio of residential projects comprising Piramal Mahalaxmi (Jacob Circle), Piramal Vaikunth (Thane), Piramal Revanta (Mulund), Piramal Aranya (Byculla) and Piramal Agastya (Kurla), and a state-of-the-art commercial project, Priamal Realty has roped in cricketer Rahul Dravid. The former captain of the Indian cricket team is known for his dependable and composed nature and with his reliable, collected and positive approach on field Rahul Dravid will showcase embodying Piramal Realty’s core values of knowledge, action, care and impact, and speak directly to the customers with signature messages on the importance of home ownership. Dravid has always adhered to the mantra of knowledge and hard work in challenging games or life situations.

Gaurav Sawhney, Chief Operating Officer, Piramal Realty

adds, “Rahul Dravid embodies our philosophy of creating a positive impact on people’s lives. Having Rahul Dravid on board will help us enhance our purpose of doing well and doing good; since he is not just an international sports icon, but also a source of inspiration for many around the world. Rahul Dravid’s qualities of being dependable, authentic, true and impactful perfectly align with our brand values.” Elaborating on his association with the real estate arm of the Piramal Group, Rahul shares, “A career in sports is impossible to manage without the support and guidance, and reassurance of family and friends. During tough times, there is always home where we go to. As an advocate for the brand, it gives me great pleasure to collaborate with Piramal Realty, which resonates with my own core belief of giving the best throughout the process.”

nGT levies a CompensaTion of rs 400Cr on 500 morBi CeramiC uniTs for environmenTal DamaGe

The gujarat pollution Control board (gpCb) told Gujarat High Court that around 500 Morbi ceramic units are in debt of Rs 400 Cr, which they have to pay as compensation for the environmental damage caused by using coal-gasifier plants in their units. The National green Tribunal (NgT) directed the GPCB to close all the coal gasifier factories and units to deal with the air pollution in Morbi. Read the complete report in www.surfacesreporter.com.

Shut Down of Coal Gasifiers

A principal bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) directed the GPCB to close all the coal gasifier factories and units to control or deal with pollution in Morbi. The district contains a variety of ceramic industries that are using coal gasifier plants. NGT wants the units to switch over to non-coal gasifiers or PNG or technology.

Further, the Tribunal had also directed GPCB that it must initiate “immediate steps for the prosecution of the industries which have operated in violation of law and recover compensation for causing damage to the environment and public health.”

Two-Fold Role of Committee

NGT also recommended constituting a committee with Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), GPCB, and NEERI officials to assess the compensation amount recovered and create a restoration plan for the area.

For the reparation, Shah submitted a report to incorporate some environmentalists or experts in this field to carry out an “extensive investigation and examination on how this area can be repaired as a long-term measure.”

Uttarakhand Forest Fire 2016 A view from flooding in the Blessem district of Erftstadt, Germany (2021). Image © Rhein-Erft-Kreis, AP

ipCC ClimaTe reporT: arChiTeCTs anD DesiGners musT “make ChanGes To The Way They DesiGn”

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released first instalment of its Sixth Assessment Report starkly revealing the “widespread, rapid and intensifying” climate change. The report states the measured increase in greenhouse gases leading to global warming. It documents “unless there are immediate,

rapid and large-scale reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, limiting warming to close to 1.5°C or even 2°C

will be beyond reach.” Architects Climate Action Network and other UK climate pressure groups say it is a “call to arms’’ for architects and designers that they must “make changes to the way they design” to help avert disastrous climate change. The report stresses that “Achieving global net-zero carbon dioxide emissions is a requirement for stabilizing carbon dioxide-induced global surface temperature increases.” Read out the full sobering report here:

A 42-page report, titled Climate Change 2021: the Physical Science Basis, is the first major report, comprising 14,000 studies that will be completed in 2022. The report shows five possible scenarios explaining the different levels of emissions, which concludes 1.5 degrees of warming or more by 2040, breaking the Paris Agreement goals. The report was supposed to be released in April 2021 but was postponed for several months due to the Covid-19 pandemic. 234 authors from 66 countries created this report, and 517 contributing authors, based on more than 14,000 scientific papers.

1.5 degrees Celsius of global Warming will bring “irreversible” changes

The report was released on Monday in preparation for November’s COP26 summit. The crucial report reveals that controlling global warming to the vital 1.5-degree Celsius threshold set out in the Paris Agreement is now practically impossible. Furthermore, if the temperature increases, it may lead to “irreversible changes in sea levels and extreme weather events such as heatwaves, putting “billions of people at immediate risk,” according to UN secretary-general António Guterres. The worst-case scenario presented by IPCC forecasts that global warming of up to 5.7 degrees by the end of the century.

Require “Immediate, Rapid and Large-scale” Cuts to greenhouse gases

The report stresses that the quick, fast, and wide-scale reduction in carbon dioxide emissions (CO2) and other greenhouse gases could still help balance global temperatures around the set limit. According to the report, “strong and sustained” emissions reductions and Co2 removal from the atmosphere could help control temperatures between one to 1.8 degrees.

IpCC Report suggests Carbon Removal as a potential solution

IPCC has to present two further reports, which are scheduled to be published next year, providing more effective solutions to avert climate change. However, the current report has already suggested that removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere with the help of carbon removal technologies could help to reduce global temperatures and ocean acidification. It will also have a positive impact on biodiversity as well as food and water supplies. Many landscape architects and planners are already working towards it. It is necessary to apply resilient green infrastructure, or sponge city approaches to fight increased temperature and flooding simultaneously.

The report is an alarming call that we will not take any necessary measures; climate change will result in 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming or more by 2040. The next report of the IPCC will release in 2022 and the AR6 Synthesis Report in the second half of 2022. Read full news at www.surfacesreporter.com

inDia ranks seConD mosT DesiraBle DesTinaTion for manufaCTurinG more opportunities for industrial space Designers!

India officially ranks higher than United States (US) to become the second most desirable destination for manufacturing according to the Cushman and Wakefield 2021 Global Manufacturing Risk Index. The reports placed the USA at the second spot majorly due to the relocation of manufacturing relocations from China to the other parts of Asia. A major driving factor for the placement is cost-effectiveness according to Cushman and Wakefield. The consultants state that report indicates a positive inclination of manufacturers towards India as a preferred manufacturing hub over other countries such as the USA and other countries of the APAC region. The data assessed 47 countries in Europe, the Americas and Asia-Pacific (APAC).

What worked in the favour?

The survey indicates that the Indian operating conditions and affordability have worked well for the country. The other reasons also include proven success in meeting the outsourcing requirements which have improved the country’s ranking over the years. The USA follows India at the third position whereas Canada, Czech Republic, Indonesia, Lithuania, Thailand, Malaysia and Poland are placed in the top ten in the same order. The report based its rankings on four prime criteria, including the operational costs, business environment (availability of talent/labour, accessibility to markets), and capability to restart manufacturing. The US-China trade tensions also helped India reserve a better spot on the list. Plant-based relocations from China to another part of Asia proved to be fruitful for the secular land of India. Since the pharma, chemical and engineering sectors have been the centre of Sino-American tensions, the resultant shift has proven beneficial for India. Additionally, The USA has adopted technologies and policies that make it a tough competition to China even though the US itself is a larger consumer.

How did India perform in the other parameters?

On the cost outlook this year both India and Vietnam have slipped a spot, overtaken by Indonesia. While China retains its number one position even on the cost front, India slips to the third rank and Indonesia rose to the second from the fifth. Jakarta’s dipping rents have been responsible for Indonesia’s swift movement to the second spot. Vietnam’s Wages costs are lower than China due to the competition from the lowercost locations. Another substantial mention is of Thailand that moved to the fifth spot from the eighth. Columbia too climbed up to the eighth spot from the fifteenth due to its labour costs being similar to Asia. Parameters such as managing the geopolitical risks involved in running a business and its ability to restart the manufacturing businesses after a devastating second wave of the pandemic are some areas where India needs to ponder for becoming the most preferred spot for manufacturing.

Indian operating conditions and affordability have worked well for the country. Plant-based relocations from China to another part of Asia proved to be fruitful for the secular land of India.

In these parameters, India ranks much lower in the list. For the risk scenario involving the lower levels of economic and political risks, India has been clubbed at the third quartile of the rankings along with several other countries. The bouncing back rate which indicates a country’s ability to restart the manufacturing sector is another factor where India currently ranks in the fourth quartile along with Sri Lanka, Mexico, Thailand, Tunisia, Peru, Philippines,Vietnam, Indonesia, Bulgaria, and Venezuela.

The road ahead

To become the most sought after place for manufacturing, India needs to become a more reliable destination in terms of risks as well as bounce back better after the pandemic! The way ahead is extremely favourable for architects, structural engineers and designer working in the industrial space, feels, SURFACES REPORTER.