VARANASI: Chunar Balua Patthar (sandstone), extensively used in architectures and monuments around the nation, has been granted Geographical Indication (GI) tag under herbal items category in the first week of March this 12 months. It is the second GI tag under herbal items after Makrana Marble of Rajasthan.
According to the GI certificate (No-339), the tag has been issued in the title of the Consortium of Handicrafts and Artisans Society, facilitated by means of Human Welfare Association. The GI certification was applied to the Geographical Indication Registry, Chennai on July 25, 2016, and the certificate was issued on March 4, 2019.
It took two years and 8 months to get the GI certificate for Chunar sandstone. The important factor is that it is the 2d after Makrana marble to get the GI tang under herbal items category, said GI knowledgeable and HWA president Rajni Kant. The sandstone present in Mirzapur, Chandauli and Sonbhadra districts could be coated under this certification, he said adding that the individuality of this sandstone is that its sheen by no means dies.
The use of Chunar sandstone could be noticed in Ashokan Pillar and Lion Capitol at ASI museum of Sarnath, Chunar Fort, Ramnagar citadel, ghats of Varanasi, primary building of Sampurnanad Sanskrit University, 80-feet Buddha statue in Kandhar style at Thai Temple in Sarnath, 70-feet sitting statue of Buddha at Vietnamese Temple, Sarnath, and innumerable architectures and monuments in the nation, said Kant.
He said that with Chunar sandstone, now the Varanasi area of eastern UP has 11 GI-tagged merchandise together with Banaras brocade & saree, handmade carpet of Bhadohi, Banaras gulabi meenakari craft, Varanasi wooden lacquerware & toys, Mirzapur handmade dari, Nizamabad black pottery, Banaras metal repouse craft, Varanasi glass beads, Soft stone undercut paintings and Ghazipur jute wall putting. According to him, about 20 lakh persons are engaged in those crafts with an annual turnover of about Rs 20,500 crore.
According to the GI certificate (No-339), the tag has been issued in the title of the Consortium of Handicrafts and Artisans Society, facilitated by means of Human Welfare Association. The GI certification was applied to the Geographical Indication Registry, Chennai on July 25, 2016, and the certificate was issued on March 4, 2019.
It took two years and 8 months to get the GI certificate for Chunar sandstone. The important factor is that it is the 2d after Makrana marble to get the GI tang under herbal items category, said GI knowledgeable and HWA president Rajni Kant. The sandstone present in Mirzapur, Chandauli and Sonbhadra districts could be coated under this certification, he said adding that the individuality of this sandstone is that its sheen by no means dies.
The use of Chunar sandstone could be noticed in Ashokan Pillar and Lion Capitol at ASI museum of Sarnath, Chunar Fort, Ramnagar citadel, ghats of Varanasi, primary building of Sampurnanad Sanskrit University, 80-feet Buddha statue in Kandhar style at Thai Temple in Sarnath, 70-feet sitting statue of Buddha at Vietnamese Temple, Sarnath, and innumerable architectures and monuments in the nation, said Kant.
He said that with Chunar sandstone, now the Varanasi area of eastern UP has 11 GI-tagged merchandise together with Banaras brocade & saree, handmade carpet of Bhadohi, Banaras gulabi meenakari craft, Varanasi wooden lacquerware & toys, Mirzapur handmade dari, Nizamabad black pottery, Banaras metal repouse craft, Varanasi glass beads, Soft stone undercut paintings and Ghazipur jute wall putting. According to him, about 20 lakh persons are engaged in those crafts with an annual turnover of about Rs 20,500 crore.
Chunar sandstone second natural good to get GI tag
![Chunar sandstone second natural good to get GI tag]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
March 26, 2019
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