ASI to draw up monument map
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is planning a heritage map for the country, logging in unprotected monuments and antiquities to curb trafficking and ensure they are not neglected. The Rs 90-crore project, National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities, proposes a locational analysis that would include not only the protected …
From the Jurassic age
Scientists have uncovered the oldest dinosaur embryos ever found. They date to the beginning of the Jurassic age 190 million years ago. The find, which has taken years to decipher, is helping the understanding of the development of a long-necked, plant-eating giant, Massospondylus carinatus. The report by Robert R. Reisz …
Agra gets UN stamp on heritage plan
Agra, the only city in the world with three world heritage monuments to its credit, may soon receive the distinction of the world's only river front "heritage monuments club". A draft proposal for the formation of a heritage zone in Agra, clubbing the two world heritage monuments, Taj Mahal and …
SC seeks details on protection of monuments
The Supreme Court today directed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to furnish details about the steps taken by them to protect various important monuments in the Capital from being damaged and encroached upon.The monuments, regarding which the direction was issued, include mazars of …
Farmers complain of theft of canal water
Farmers in villages of Rai Water Service Division in the district are not receiving their share of irrigation water for the past few months due to erratic and inadequate supply of canal water and reported theft of irrigation water. As a result water does not reach the tail-end of the …
Nilgiri Railway chugs into world heritage list
The Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR), which connects Mettupalayam (326 metres) to Udagamandalam (Ooty) (2,203 metres), is now a world heritage site for its outstanding contribution in keeping steam heritage tourism alive. This was decided by Unesco's world heritage commite in Durdun.
HC throws rule book at Bukhari
The Delhi High Court has ordered that all unauthorised structures in and around Jama Masjid be removed and directed the Shahi Imam to cooperate in this effort. The court further said that after clearing the historical Grand Mosque of these structures, the Archaeological Survey of India would undertake repairs of …
Red fort gets set for world heritage status
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is planning to ask the World Heritage committee (WHC) to nominate Red Fort as a world heritage site in 2007. Once the nomination is cleared, the committee would send an expert panel to decide on it. There are 27 world heritage sites in India, including …
Court issues notice to MCD, ASI on monument upkeep
The Delhi High Court has issued notices to the Archaeological Survey of India, Delhi government, Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Delhi Urban Art Commission and Ministry of Culture on a PIL seeking direction to ensure protection of five medieval monuments in Badarpur in the Capital. The respondents were asked to file …
Blueprint for better water supply in NCR
The NCR Planning Board has proposed the development of a blueprint for water resources in order to improve water supply in the National Capital Region. The blueprint will identify all potential surface water sources, ground water aquifers in the region and inter-basin transfer of water. Water mapping, desilting, augmentation of …
Renovate heritage buildings: INTACH
On the occasion of the millennium celebrations of Chamba town being held in October this year, the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has demanded repair and renovation of all the heritage buildings in the town so as to bring them to their original shape and pristine …
MCD told to stop construction at Humayuns Tomb
The Delhi High Court ordered the Municipal Corporation of Delhi to stop all construction activities near the historic Humayun's Tomb immediately. The MCD had earlier permitted construction near the Arachaeological Survey of India-protected monument. The court demanded to know how illegal construction was sanctioned near the protected monument at Nizamuddin …
Pilgrims vandalize archaeological remains
It has been reported that pilgrims who visited Anuradhapura during the recent Poson poya have caused wanton destruction to archaeological remains in the ancient city. The archaeological remains in Mahameunauyana are the worst affected. Parts of ancient rock pillars and granite monuments have been used by pilgrims for makeshift hearths …
Monumental sights
The proposal to set up a National Heritage Sites Commission is a belated recognition of the dire condition of India's historical heritage. As the Express has been chronicling over the past weeks, India is losing precious historical sites because of the monumental neglect by the government and the callous indifference …
NDMC plans a 24x7 water project, at no extra cost
People living in the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) areas now have two reasons to celebrate. Firstly, NDMC has begun work on a project that will make water available 24x7 to those living within its jurisdiction, and secondly, this will be at no extra cost. While NDMC buys water in …
Monumental sights
The proposal to set up a National Heritage Sites Commission is a belated recognition of the dire condition of India's historical heritage. As the Express has been chronicling over the past weeks, India is losing precious historical sites because of the monumental neglect by the government and the callous indifference …
Govt wakes up to crumbling heritage, floats national panel
Acting on a directive from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Ministry of Culture today proposed formation of a National Heritage Sites Commission, which will come out with a uniform policy to preserve heritage sites across the country, including those under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Announcing this, Culture Minister …
ASI evicts encroachers at Arab ki Sarai
Encroachments at Arab ki Sarai, a 16th-century monument near Humayun's tomb, were finally cleared by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The monument was built by Humayun's wife, Hamida Bano Begum and was used as residential quarters by Persian masons and maulvis in the 16th century. Arab ki sarai is …
Cleaning up a tall order
Of Delhi's two World Heritage sites, the Qutub Minar has been the poor cousin of Humayun's Tomb. For the Qutub, built in 1202 and given World Heritage status by UNESCO in 1993, has had neither an international organisation opting to landscape its gardens, nor hotel chains wanting to take up …
Bhutan dam projects pose threat to State
When the Government of India is facing serious opposition to its mega dam projects inside the country, it has been implementing some hydel power projects in neighbouring Bhutan, which may have dangerous consequences for Assam and West Bengal. This was stated by Thinley Penjore, chairman of the National Front of …
