ASI urges revenue officials to survey encroachments around 75 heritage sites in 13 districts

Aurangabad, July 8:

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI, Aurangabad Circle) sought administrative support from the district administration in freeing the heritage sites and monuments in its jurisdiction from encroachments. There are 75 heritage sites and structures which are spread in 13 districts of the revenue division. There is a dire need for a survey by revenue officials to note down the encroachments upon ASI land. This would enable the office to provide tourist-friendly facilities at each monument, it is learnt.

While addressing the press conference organised at the ASI circle office, the superintending archaeologist Milan Kumar Chauley briefed upon the encroachments existing around the Bibi ka Maqbara, Daulatabad Fort, and other monuments. He said, " The heritage sites (of the region) which were listed under the then Nizam Dominion came under the custodianship of the ASI after the merger of Hyderabad Estate into India. A gazette notification was also released in 1949. However, there is an urgent need to remove encroachments that had been developed on the ASI land or in the vicinity of the heritage sites. The implementation of the ASI Act has to be made by the district administration. As a result, the ASI Circle office corresponded with the local district administration, but sans any action. We had obtained the records of the year 1951. It stated that the land existing around Bibi ka Maqbara is owned by the ASI. Accordingly, we have initiated to remove the encroachment with the help of Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC). The ASI aspires to free all the monuments in our jurisdiction from the encroachments."

75 sites in 13 districts

The ASI jurisdiction covers 13 districts including Aurangabad, Jalna, Beed, Parbhani, Hingoli, Nasik, Ahmednagar, Jalgaon, Dhulia, Nandurbar, Osmanabad, Latur and Nanded.

Chauley said, " The notifications released during the British and Nizam regimes mentioned of just heritage monuments. There is no specification about the land surrounding it. This is encouraging encroachers. There are 75 heritage sites and monuments in the 13 districts. Hence the survey with ASI and revenue officials should be held soon. It will help to jot down the total encroachments around each monument. After removing encroachments, this land should be

transferred in the name of ASI. The charges of mutation are very exorbitant. These heritage structures are of the state and the ASI is just the custodian that which caretakes them. Hence the state government should take appropriate decisions on priority so as to protect the heritage structures, soon."

The superintending archaeologist expressed concern over encroachments made outside the Bibi ka Maqbara, which is a heritage of national importance. There is a nexus between encroachers and government officials. We are fighting a legal battle against them. We have demanded the local district administration to measure the land outside the Maqbara, complete the marking procedure and register the land in the name of ASI. There is a dire need for support from the district administration in this regard. The support of local residents is also expected. The tourism industry is solely dependent upon these monuments. Hence after freeing these monuments from encroachments, the ASI would be able to provide tourist-friendly tourists and protect them.

The assistant superintending archaeologist Kishore Solapurkar was also present on the occasion.