46 monuments in Delhi to be spruced up before CWG

The government has identified 46 monuments in Delhi for elaborate sprucing up before the 2010 Commonwealth Games, the Rajya Sabha was informed today.

Replying to supplementaries during Question Hour, Minister of State for Planning and Parliamentary Affairs V Narayanasamy said 174 monuments in Delhi have been accorded the national importance status.

These comprise mosques, tombs, forts, minars, baolis, inscribed pillars, rock edict and cemeteries belonging to Mauryan, Gupta, Tomar, Chauhan, Mamuluk, Khalji, Tughluq, Sayyid, Lodi, Sur, Mughal and British periods from 3rd Century BC to 18th century AD.

He said Rs 17.5 crore has been sanctioned this year for refurbishing and providing tourist amenities at the 46 monuments but ruled out declaring Delhi as 'heritage city'.

"There is no provision under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act to declare any city as heritage city," he said adding only sites like Humayan's Tomb, Qutab Complex and Red Fort have been declared World Heritage Sites.

The face lift of the monuments includes their comprehensive conservation, environment development in the precincts and provision of better amenities to visitors like drinking water, toilets, souvenir shops and cafeteria.

Narayanasamy said encroachments from 10 historical monuments have been removed since 1992. Cases are pending in courts on encroachment at 11 other sites.