Daily News Analysis » March 2024 » Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)-Delisting of Untraceable Monuments: 26 Mar 2024

Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)-Delisting of Untraceable Monuments: 26 Mar 2024

Key points:

  • Monuments facing delisting: Some of the monuments facing delisting include a medieval highway milestone in Haryana, a cemetery in Delhi, a tomb in Jhansi district, a cemetery in Lucknow, and Buddhist ruins in Varanasi.

What is meant by untraceable:

  • The monuments which could not be traced on the ground for a considerable time, despite several efforts of ASI, are referred to as untraceable monuments.
  • Delisting implications: Delisting a monument means it will no longer be conserved, protected, and maintained by the ASI. 
  • Construction-related activities are prohibited around protected sites, but once delisted, regular construction and urbanization can occur in the area.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI):

  • It operates under the Union Ministry of Culture.
  • Responsible for protecting and maintaining national monuments and archaeological sites declared significant under the Ancient Monuments Preservation Act, 1904 and the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.

Why in news?

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has decided to delist 18 centrally protected monuments because it has assessed that they do not have national importance.