The ASI wants the agency to immediately change the flight path to ensure safety of the World Heritage monument.
As the Directorate General of Civil Aviation plans to engage experts from IIT to assess the effect of vibrations caused by overflying aircraft on Qutab Minar here, the ASI wants the agency to immediately change the flight path to ensure safety of the World Heritage monument.
The Archaeological Survey of India, the statutory body responsible for conservation and protection of monuments in the country, has already taken up the matter with DGCA and would write to it for the second time in as many months, asking it to change the flight path.
"The DGCA has communicated to us that they have sought the help of experts from IIT to conduct a study to assess the impact of vibrations of the aircraft on the Qutab," a senior ASI official said.
"But the ASI wants the route of the aircraft to be changed immediately as it is affecting the structure. There may not be any external damages but internally there may be damages. It is not a very difficult issue to change the route," he said.
After a letter was written by the ASI in June, the DGCA has roped in experts to conduct a study on the effect of the vibrations.
The official said aircraft landing on the third runway, which was opened to traffic recently, were passing too close to the 72.5 m high monument.
"This is really causing damage to Qutub and changing the route is the best thing to do to protect the World heritage monument," the official said.
He said a similar situation was witnessed when aircraft passed over certain temples in Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh.
"We came to know that vibrations from the aircraft were damaging the monuments and we got the route diverted immediately," he said.
The official also said that the ASI will once again take up the issue with the DGCA through the Culture Ministry once the Budget session of Parliament gets over.
"We are waiting for the session to get over and we will write to the DGCA once again to change the route," he said.
Sources said the ASI is worried that vibrations from aircraft could affect the foundation of the minar, which is one of the tallest monuments in the world.
Every day, up to 10,000 people visit the monument built by Sultan Qutubuddin Aibak in 1173.
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