Centrally Protected Monuments

Subject: History

Context:

Uttar Pradesh has largest number of Centrally Protected Monuments encroached upon; Tamil Nadu is a close second.

Details:

While 75 protected monument sites have been trespassed in Uttar Pradesh, the corresponding number for Tamil Nadu is 74.
Karnataka and Maharashtra are third and fourth with 48 and 46 such monuments which are encroached upon. Gujarat has 35 protected monuments that have been invaded.
Uttar Pradesh also has the largest number of Centrally Protected monuments in the country at 743, while Tamil Nadu has 412.
India has a total of 3,695 Centrally Protected Monuments or Sites in the country, under the protection of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
A total of 356 such heritage structures are intruded into, across the country.

Monuments of national importance:

Nodal Authority: Monuments of National Importance are designated by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
What is a National Monument?
- ‘Ancient Monument’ is defined under the Ancient Monument and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act,1958.
- The Act defines Ancient Monument as any structure or monument or any cave, rock sculpture, an inscription that is of historical, or archaeological interest.
- Further, Ancient Monument has to be in existence for not less than 100 years.
Maintained by: The Central Government is authorised to maintain, protect and promote Monuments of National Importance.
Sites: Currently, 3,691 monuments nationwide are protected by the Archaeological Survey of India(ASI). The highest number of them were in Uttar Pradesh followed by Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

Archaeological Survey of India (ASI):

ASI is the premier organization for archaeological research, scientific analysis, excavation of archaeological sites, and conservation and preservation of protected monuments.
It is an attached office under the Department of Culture (Ministry of Culture).
ASI was founded in 1861 by Alexander Cunningham who became its first Director-General.

Regulation and protection of monuments:

The ASI regulates construction around the protected monuments through the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment) Act, 2010.
The Act prohibits the construction of 100 metres around a protected monument. The next 300-metre radius is regulated too.
Further amendments have been proposed which seek to do away with the ban on construction within 100 metres of a ASI-protected monument and regulate construction within 100-200 metres, under the Act that protects monuments and sites over 100 years old.
This is expected to give more powers to the ASI on the encroachments.