Revision of the Ancient Monuments Act is ruinous

Contact Counsellor

Last Updated21/07/2022

The planned revision to Section 20 of the ‘Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains’ Act is ruinous.

Government has announced that a Bill will be introduced to modify the law dealing with ancient monuments.
It will provide more power to the Archaeological Survey of India.
ASI protects around 3,700 archaeological sites and ancient monuments.
Progressive militarisation of state agencies are dismantling public institutions.
Proposed changes
Section 20 of Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act of 1958 prohibits construction within 100 metre radius of all ASI-protected monuments and regulates activities within another 300 meter radius.
- New Bill proposes to revise this section.

Permitting construction work may weaken foundations of centuries-old edifices.
Chances of inadvertent damage are also higher.
Electric pole might hit a monument’s finial, leading it to fall to the ground.
Many monuments in India are already threatened by anthropogenic forces.
Domestic waste and greywater regularly seep into sixth-century sanctuary at Jogeshwari in Mumbai.
Air and water pollution continue to turn white marble of Taj Mahal yellow and green, and so on.
Earth around an archaeological site or ancient monument is important source of history.
If construction machines disturb it, artifacts long buried in layers of soil may be broken and their contexts destroyed.
- This makes the task of undertaking new research more difficult.

It is unclear whether it will empower the ASI.
Various laws and statutory bodies, such as National Monuments Authority are already in place to help the ASI to fulfill its mandate.
Proposed amendment to AMASR may hasten ASI’s transformation into a body that exists only in name

Efforts at preservation are required and not new laws with more teeth.
Strengthening of ASI will safeguard and promote our heritage in the years to come.