Myanmar with UNESCO in effort to enlist Bagan as world heritage

Myanmar is working with the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in an effort to enlist its ancient city of Bagan as one of the world heritages, Vice President U Myint Swe said on Thursday.

The Bagan Ancient Cultural Zone, where over 3,000 ancient pagodas and religious edifices can be viewed in one place, has been in existence for more than 1,000 years, standing as one of the tourist attractions of Myanmar, reports Xinhua news agency.

At a meeting of the Leading Committee for Restoration and Conservation of the Pagodas in Bagan, U Myint Swe called for taking into account the possible potential damage to pagodas in Bagan in possible future disaster when the quake-hit pagodas are restored.

He proposed a four-year plan with the step-by-step approach as part of the efforts for

venting damage caused by the possible future disaster, urging for conserving the pagodas without damaging their original architectural design.

A total of 389 pagodas were damaged by a 6.8-magnitude earthquake on August 24, 2016.

Of the quake-damaged pagodas, 325 have been restored and conserved so far in two years with 21 still under conservation and 43 remaining to be done so.

(With inputs from agencies.)