ASI is checking illegal encroachments in monuments: Minister

New Delhi March 29 (IANS) The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has beefed up security at selected monuments in the country and action has been taken to counter illegal construction and encroachment in the vicinity of heritage sites parliament was informed on Wednesday.

In addition to the regular watch and ward staff private security personnel State police guards and CISF have also been deployed for the safety and security of selected monuments Minister of State for Culture and Tourism Mahesh Sharma said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha. The minister however said that there is no proposal for using drones to check construction building or industrial activity in the vicinity of heritage sites and forts. The encroachments in the protected monuments and protected areas are removed as per the provisions contained in the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act 1958 and Rules 1959 framed thereunder the minister said. As per the statutory provisions the Archaeological Survey of India is bound to approach the District Magistrate/Collector for removal of encroachments from protected monuments/area and unauthorised constructions in the prohibited and regulated areas the minister added. --IANS ss/vm