MCD officials told to check constructions near ASI monuments

The MCD commissioner has issued special directions to officials to implement amendments in the Archaeological Survey Act that bans construction within 100 metres of a protected monument. The act also puts several restrictions on properties/construction within 100-300 metres of the same.

The MCD commissioner has issued special directions to officials to implement amendments in the Archaeological Survey Act that bans construction within 100 metres of a protected monument. The act also puts several restrictions on properties/construction within 100-300 metres of the same.

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Not just this, the Ancient Monuments and Archaeolog-ical Sites and Remains (Amendment and Validation) Act 2010 also puts severe monetary fine and jail term for erring officials who allow this.

Since the AMASR Act was passed in March 2010, the ASI officials have been promptly writing police complaints/FIRs and sending copies to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) for taking action. More than 1,200 such complaints have already been lodged across Delhi, which has 174 protected monuments.

“Commissioner KS Mehra has directed the deputy commissioners (DCs) of each zone to act with due vigilance with regards to various provisions of the AMASR Act,” said Deep Mathur, MCD’s director (press and information).

The MCD has circulated provisions of the act to all its officials. Further, the commissioner has also directed the DCs to ensure that no unauthorised construction or encroachment comes up in the vicinity of protected heritage monuments as required under the law.

Meanwhile, after HT wrote twice about the ongoing unauthorised construction in Nizamuddin Basti near Atgah Khan’s tomb, MCD finally demolished large chunk of the construction. However, no action was taken against any of the MCD officials.