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    Economic Advisory Council asks govt to relook procedure for declaring monuments to be of national importance

    Synopsis

    “The Archaeological Survey of India should come up with substantive criteria and a detailed procedure for declaring monuments to be of national importance, on the lines of operational guidelines of UNESCO,” it said in the report, titled Monuments of National Importance – Urgent Need for Rationalisation.

    1,000 monuments to be taken over by private sector under Monument Mitra Scheme, says Union Culture SecretaryANI
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    The Economic Advisory Council to the PM (EAC-PM) has suggested the government relook at the criteria for declaring monuments to be of national importance, hand over monuments with local importance to respective state governments while enhancing the funds allocated for upkeep of these monuments.

    “The Archaeological Survey of India should come up with substantive criteria and a detailed procedure for declaring monuments to be of national importance, on the lines of operational guidelines of UNESCO,” it said in the report, titled Monuments of National Importance – Urgent Need for Rationalisation.

    “Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 may be amended to define parameters like national importance and elucidate what constitutes architectural, historical and cultural significance,” it said, adding that it may be simplest to do it through an executive order.

    EAC-PM member Sanjeev Sanyal prepared the report which has also recommended that the proceeds from these monuments should vest with the implementing bodies.

    Further, it has suggested that standalone antiquities should be removed from the list of monuments of national importance while the untraceable and minor monuments should be denotified at the earliest.

    As per the report, the government had allocated Rs 428 crore for the upkeep and protection of 3695 monuments, which is approximately Rs 11 lakh per MNI. “This is too little for a culturally rich and civilizational state like India. Therefore, there is an urgent need to exponentially increase the allocation of funds for protection and upkeep of monuments,” EAC-PM said, adding that the allocation should be based on the importance of the monument and due assessment of conservation works required.

    India currently has 3,695 monuments of national importance which are maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). According to the EAC-PM, there is a need to comprehensively review the list of MNI to address the issue of selection errors, geographically skewed distribution of monuments and inadequate expenditure on protection of monuments.

    The EAC-PM is of the view that the separation of responsibilities between the Archaeological Survey of India (maintenance of monuments) and the National Monuments Authority (development of surrounding area) seems to not have worked.

    “It is advisable to merge these responsibilities and give them to NMA. The main ASI should focus only on archaeology research, excavation, restorations and maintenance of museums,” it said, adding that NMA can function as an autonomous body under ASI.

    Once a monument or a site is declared to be of national importance, one-hundred-meter radius of the monument is then considered a ‘prohibited area’ where there is a ban on construction activities. Further 200 meters is considered a ‘regulated area’ where there are regulations on construction.


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