Panel calls for revising rules of construction around protected ASI monuments

Source: The post is based on the article “Panel calls for revising rules of construction around protected ASI monuments”  published in The Hindu on 23rd September 2023

What is the News?

The Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport Tourism and Culture has called for revising rules of construction around protected Archaeological Survey of India(ASI) monuments.

What are the rules of construction around protected ASI monuments?

​​The prohibited and restricted area provision was introduced in 2010 through an amendment to the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act, 1958. 

It prohibits and regulates all activities like mining and construction around 100 metres and 300 metres. 

What are the observations made by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport Tourism and Culture on this?

The committee has observed that the provision of 100-metre prohibited area and 300-metre regulated area around all monuments protected by the ASI has pitted the local community against these heritage structures in many places as they find it difficult to carry out necessary repair work of their residential spaces.

The committee has asked the government to revise the rules to make them realistic.It has also recommended rationalizing the application of such rules based on the historical significance of the monuments.

The committee has also recommended that the list of all 3,691 ASI-protected monuments be rationalized and categorized based on their national significance, unique architectural value and specific heritage content.