No more construction around 100 metres of heritage sites

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday gave a nod to an amendment to the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites Remain Act, 1958 to decrease the prohibited area of constructions around heritage sites from 300 metres to 100 metres. The construction works, however, will be limited to only government-approved projects.

The amendments include a new definition of 'public works' in section 2 of the Act, which defines public works as "construction works related to infrastructure which is financed and constructed by the Central Government for public purposes, being essential to public safety or security of public at large and its emergent necessity is based upon specific instance of danger to public safety or security of public at large."

An amendment to section 20A of the Act, to permit any government employee to carry out public works in the prohibited area, after a permission is granted by the Central government, is another.

A standing committee report, tabled in the Rajya Sabha in December 2016, had recommended for the amendment.

"The committee, although is not against the view that ASI can effectively fulfill its mandate if it has adequate statutory backing to remove and prevent encroachments, however, is of the considered opinion that it would not help to any great extent, until we are able to strike at the nexus between the unscrupulous elements and local authorities including the police, leaving ASI helpless in this regard," reads the report.

...& ANALYSIS

• Earlier, construction ban was applicable for areas 300 metres from heritage sites.
   
• The construction works will be limited to only government-approved projects.