Archaeological sites to be polythene free zones

To keep the monuments and archaeological sites clean, the government has recommended prohibition on use of polythene, Parliament was told on Wednesday.

"All the states and union territories have been directed to issue necessary direction to local municipal bodies and concerned departments to make the area 300 metres from the boundary of a protected monument polythene-free zone," Minister of State for Culture and Tourism Mahesh Sharma told the Rajya Sabha.

He said that the Archaeological Survey of India has declared all ASI protected monuments and archaeological sites as "polythene-free zones".

"All the field offices of ASI have been directed for necessary compliance. In this regard, the secretary has also issued a letter to all the Chief Secretaries of states to elicit their active cooperation for making centrally protected monuments as polythene free zone," he added.

--IANS

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