The Hindu       14.03.2011

Authority to review construction near monuments

The Dharmeswarar temple in Manimangalam, near Tambaram, which is one of the 23 ASI protected monuments in the Chennai Metropolitan Area. — Photo: A.Muralitharan

The uncertainty of property owners, who want to build anew or alter existing structures in the immediate vicinity of 23 archaeological sites within the Chennai Metropolitan Area, would end soon, when the office of the Competent Authority set up to review building applications starts functioning.

“The process of setting up the National Monument Authority and the formulation of rules that define its functions are under way. This will be completed soon and the applications submitted for ‘no objection certificate' by property owners processed,” said T.S. Sridhar, Principal Secretary and Commissioner of Archaeology, who has been appointed as the Competent Authority for Tamil Nadu to review the applications.

“We have taken note of all applications received so far and acknowledged them. Some of the applications will be dealt with locally, and a few others, depending on the importance of the monument and the nature of the proposed development, sent to the National Monument Authority's office in Delhi,” Mr. Sridhar said.

“A survey of revenue maps to identify the limits of regulated and prohibited areas around 23 archaeological sites is almost over. The next step is to verify the maps on site and prepare a comprehensive report. This report will be sent to the Competent Authority, who will decide on building rules applicable for each monument area. The whole process may take a few months,” explained Sathyabama Badrinath, Superintending Archaeologist, Archaeological Survey of India, Chennai Circle.

Completed maps showing the survey numbers of properties within the monument area and those within the prohibited and regulated areas are now available in various sub-circle offices of ASI.

In 1992, new rules were implemented in order to regulate development in areas around national monuments.

Construction within 100 meter of the monument, delineated as prohibited area, was not allowed.

Only repair works approved by the ASI were permitted. Owners of properties falling within a further 200 metres, designated as regulated area, had to obtain ‘no objection' certificate from the ASI before starting construction.

However, these rules were not adequately enforced.

In 2010, the Act was amended to improve enforcement and various circle offices of ASI were asked to survey the monument areas and work with the local bodies to implement the rules.

Initial surveys by the ASI in the Chennai Metropolitan Area indicated that the some of the archaeological sites were encroached upon. In a few others, the area around was extensively built in violation of rules.

The ASI has informed the local bodies about the amended rules and insisted that the ‘no objection' certificate must be sought before sanctioning building plans.

“The office of the Competent Authority will be set up and with the help of four administrative and four field-level officers all the applications processed,” Mr. Sridhar said.