Thousands of people who have built homes in the five wards in Pallavaram, which the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has declared ‘megalithic sites’, can now undertake repair and renovation work after obtaining permission from the competent authority, on the recommendations of the National Monuments Authority (NMA).
On August 17, K.N. Ramachandran, Member of Parliament, Sriperumbudur, spoke in the Parliament about this issue.
He also said suitable orders should be passed to ASI for not insisting on National Objection Certificate (NOC) from residents. Shripad Yesso Naik, Minister of State for Culture and Tourism (independent charge), has replied to the special mention raised by the MP in this regard in Lok Sabha:
“As per the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment & Validation) Act 2010, and the rules framed there under, persons having buildings or houses in the Prohibited Area (100 metres from protected monuments) of any Centrally-protected monument may undertake repairs and renovation after obtaining permission from the competent authority on the recommendations of the National Monuments Authority,” he said.
Further, in case of Regulated Area (200 metres further beyond prohibited area), the persons may undertake construction, reconstruction, repairs and renovation only after obtaining permission from the competent authority on the recommendations of National Monuments Authority. The NMA has been set up in New Delhi for recommending grant of ‘No Objection Certificate’ to the competent authorities concerned as per the relevant provisions of the said Act,” he added.
Under the provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment and Validation) Act 2010, the above institutional mechanism has been provided for dealing with the applications for grant of permission to undertake repairs/renovation/reconstruction or construction in the ‘prohibited’ and ‘regulated’ areas of centrally-protected monument/site.
The Federation of Civic and Welfare Associations of Pallavaram and Chromepet has sought re-examination of the NOC order.
“The residents have to go through a lot of formalities to get the NOC from the competent authorities concerned. It is not an easy process and also the formalities for getting the certificate have not been listed. The Federation seeks total exemption in this regard,” the members said.
