'Public work' may get nod near protected monuments

Construction of central government funded infrastructure projects is likely to be allowed within the "prohibited area" of protected monuments across the country.
According to a Cabinet proposal, the Culture Ministry has sought to amend the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act to allow "public work" in the prohibited areas, which is 100 metres around the protected monuments, a source said.
Currently, construction is not allowed in the prohibited area except for repair and renovation works of the existing structures.
Public works has been defined as construction works related to infrastructure which is financed and constructed by the central government for public purposes, being essential to public safety or security of public at large and its emergent necessity is based upon specific instance of danger to public safety or security of public at large."

At present, as many as 3,686 monuments and sites are centrally-protected under the jurisdiction of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) which is responsible for their maintenance.
The Cabinet proposal highlighted three instances where projects pertained to public works were not allowed under the existence law.
These were construction of an elevated road by NHAI in front of Akbar's tomb in Agra to reduce pollution in the highly congested T-junction; laying of a railway line near protected monument Rani-ki Vav at Patan in Gujarat which had to be realigned; and extension of a hospital in Bengaluru.