Chunar sandstone second natural good to get GI tag

VARANASI: Chunar Balua Patthar (sandstone), widely used in architectures and monuments across the country, has been granted Geographical Indication (GI) tag under natural goods category in the first week of March this year. It is the second GI tag under natural goods after Makrana Marble of Rajasthan.

According to the GI certificate (No-339), the tag has been issued in the name of the Consortium of Handicrafts and Artisans Society, facilitated by 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 eight months to get the GI certificate for Chunar sandstone. The important thing is that it is the second after Makrana marble to get the GI tang under natural goods category, said GI expert and HWA president Rajni Kant. The sandstone found in Mirzapur, Chandauli and Sonbhadra districts would be covered under this certification, he said adding that the uniqueness of this sandstone is that its sheen never dies.

The use of Chunar sandstone could be seen in Ashokan Pillar and Lion Capitol at ASI museum of Sarnath, Chunar Fort , Ramnagar fort, ghats of Varanasi, main 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 country, said Kant.

He said that with Chunar sandstone, now the Varanasi region of eastern UP has 11 GI-tagged products including 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 work and Ghazipur jute wall hanging. According to him, about 20 lakh people are engaged in these crafts with an annual turnover of about Rs 20,500 crore.