NEWS – The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) recently decided to delist 18 protected monuments as they have ceased to be of “national importance”

HIGHLIGHTS

• Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act (AMASR Act), 1958:
  • The AMASR Act, enacted in 1958 and amended in 2010, focuses on the declaration and conservation of ancient and historical monuments, archaeological sites, and remains of national significance.
  • The Act empowers the Central Government to declare monuments as Monuments of National Importance (MNI) after considering public views and objections.
• Highest Number in Uttar Pradesh:
  • Uttar Pradesh boasts the highest number of MNI, with 745 monuments/sites falling under this category.
  • This underscores the rich historical and cultural heritage present in Uttar Pradesh.
• Declaration Process:
  • Monuments are declared as MNIs by the Central Government through a notification published in the official gazette, following the receipt and consideration of views/objections within the specified period.
  • Upon declaration as MNI, the responsibility for protection and upkeep shifts to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which operates under the Ministry of Culture.
• ASI’s Responsibilities:
  • The ASI is tasked with the conservation, preservation, and maintenance of MNIs across India.
  • It enforces strict regulations within the vicinity of MNIs, designating a one-hundred-meter radius as a ‘prohibited area’ where construction activities are banned.
  • An additional 200 meters (100+200 meters) around the monument is considered a ‘regulated area,’ subject to construction regulations.
• Delisting Monuments:
  • Under Section 35 of the Act, the ASI has the authority to delist monuments that are deemed to have lost their national importance.
  • Once delisted, the ASI is no longer responsible for the protection and maintenance of these monuments.