Rafique Aziz
Aurangabad, March 11:
Because of possible health risks posed by the resurgent Coronavirus (Covid-19), district collector Sunil Chavan has issued an order directing the superintending archaeologist of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI, Aurangabad Circle) and the assistant director (State Archaeology) to close all the heritage monuments and museums in the district for visitors from March 11 to April 4.
The ASI (Aurangabad Circle) has received the order (revised) issued on March 10, 2021, by the district collector today. Accordingly, the superintending archaeologist (ASI, Aurangabad Circle) Milan Kumar Chauley held an emergency meeting and conveyed the closure order to heads of all the monuments (through phone call or email). The circle office also informed about the district collector's order to the director-general (ASI) in New Delhi, sources said.
Deputy superintending archaeologist (Aurangabad Circle) Biri Singh said, " Following the orders,
we have asked in-charge officials to lock the monuments in our jurisdiction with immediate effect. We have also intimated ASI headquarter about the development."
The assistant director (State Archaeology) also alerted his subordinates about the closure of all monuments and one regional museum in the district. Meanwhile, the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University (Bamu) have also been asked to close Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj Museum and History Museum. The deputy director (Tourism Directorate) and the regional manager of Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation
(MTDC) have also been intimated about the closure of tourism places and sites.
5-ticketed monuments
There are six ticketed monuments in the jurisdiction of ASI (Aurangabad Circle), out of which five are located in Aurangabad district. They are world heritage Ajanta Caves, Ellora Caves, Daulatabad Fort, Bibi ka Maqbara and Aurangabad Caves. The state archaeology is the custodian of all unticketed heritage places and monuments, including Sunehri Mahal, Bani Begum Baugh and Khandoba Temple.
ATDF expresses concern
In the aftermath of the Covid-19 outbreak last year, all the heritage places in the district were closed for nine months (from March to December). Aurangabad Tourism Development Forum (ATDF) president Jaswant Singh has expressed his concern over the sustainability of the tourism industry and its dependents due to the second wave of the virus.
Monuments locked
ASI officials stopped the entry of tourists at each monument after receiving the message from the circle office. The officials, however, had to wait for tourists to return, who had entered the monuments, before the closure orders were received. After ensuring no tourists was left in the monuments, the officials then locked the main entrances, sources said.