Govt wakes up to crumbling heritage, floats national panel

As The Indian Express series has illustrated, this couldn’t be more relevant. ‘‘The quasi-judicial body will not only have the power to review the policy of heritage and tender advice to the Centre and the states, but will also draw a tentative list of sites for inclusion in the World Heritage List,’’ Reddy said.

The commission, according to Reddy, can frame appropriate guidelines in the matter of preservation of monuments and suggest appropriate amendments to existing legislations like the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, The Antiquities and Art Treasures Act etc; can study or commission study on subjects related to the preservation of monuments in the country and submit its report to the Government.

Reddy said the ASI’s mandate will remain undiluted and its experts will be in the Commission.

Once cleared by the Cabinet, the Government will choose experts for the National Heritage Sites Commission.

Earlier, ASI Director General C Babu Rajeev told The Indian Express: ‘‘We have received a communication from the Ministry of Culture which says that the Prime Minister, in a letter to the Ministry, has listed heritage as one of the thrust areas.’’

‘‘One of the most important issues addressed by the Prime Minister is the direction to set up a statutory Heritage Sites Commission to look into the preservation of heritage sites.’’

‘‘Once it comes up, the commission will look specifically into the issues of conservation and preservation of monuments and natural heritage sites all over the country.’’

‘‘The letter directs us to lay down a national policy for heritage sites, preservation and even examine legislative changes, if required, for the preservation and conservation of heritage sites and monuments.’’

According to Rajeev, the ASI’s role has so far been limited to monuments and heritage sites that fall under its jurisdiction, mainly in the form of the monuments that have been declared ‘‘protected’’ under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act of 1958.

In his letter, the Prime Minister has suggested that the ASI also take a fresh look at those monuments and heritage sites that have not been declared ‘‘protected’’.

‘‘There are only 5,000 protected monuments in the country. At least a thousand other monuments are not protected and we now need to address heritage as a larger issue. Heritage means far more than just the notified monuments. We need to start working at sites and heritage zones which do not figure in the notified list.’’

The Prime Minister wants the ASI to ‘‘complete the report’’ on the various excavation projects it has undertaken and ‘‘promote public and private participation in heritage conservation.’’